THe-POeAS-OF 
CeLIA 

THAXTeR 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

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Chap. Copyright x\o 

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



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THE POEMS 

OF 

CELIA THAXTER 



THE POEMS 



OF 



/ 



CELIA THAXTER 




BOSTON AND NEW YORK 
HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN AND COMPANY 

1899 



/I 



Library of Congrassy 
Office f the 

DEG6-1I 



Register of Copyrlghf«r 



48671 

Copyright, 1871, 1878, and 1886, 

By L. L. THAXTER, HOUGHTON, OSGOOD & CO. 

AND CELIA THAXTER. 

Copyright, 1896 and 1899, 
By ROLAND THAXTER. 

A// rights reserved. 



SECOND COPY, 



The Eiverside Press, Cambridge, Mass., U. S. A. 
Electrotyped and Printed by H. O. Houghton & Co. 



Jon) , \ \r> '^ ^ 



In this new edition of the collected writings of Celia 
Thaxter, great care has heen taken to keep to her own 
arrangement and to the order in which the poems were 
originally published. In this way they seem to make 
something like a journal of her daily life and thought, 
and to mark the constantly increasing power of obser- 
vation which was so marked a trait in her character. 
As her eyes grew quicker to see the blooming of flow- 
ers and the flight of birds, the turn of the waves as 
they broke^on the rocks of Appledore, so the eyes 
of her spirit read more and more clearly the inward 
significance of things, the mysterious sorrows and joys 
of human life. In the earliest of her poems there is 
much to be found of that strange insight and antici- 
pation of experience which comes with such gifts of 
nature and gifts for writing as hers, but as life went 
on it seemed as if Sorrow were visible to her eyes, 
a shrouded figure walking in the daylight. Here I 
' and Sorrow sit was often true to the sad vision of her 
imagination, yet she oftenest came hand in hand with 
some invisible dancing Joy to a friend's door. 

Through the long list of these brief poems (begin- 
ning in the earliest book with Land-locked and follow- 



VI PKEFACE 

ing through the volumes called Driftiveed and The 
Cruise of the Mystery ; all reprinted here with some 
later verses found together among her papers), one 
walks side by side in intimate companionship with this 
sometimes sad-hearted but sincerely glad and happy 
woman and poet, and knows the springs of her life and 
the power of her great love and hope. In another 
volume all her delightful verses and stories for children 
have been gathered; but one poem. The Sandpiper^ 
seemed to belong to one book as much as to the other, 
and this has been reprinted in both. 

In the volume of her Letters will be found the 
records of Celia Thaxter's life and so far as it could be 
told the history of her literary work, while some per- 
sonal notes by the hand of one of her dearest and old- 
est friends leave little to be said here. Yet those who 
have known through her writings alone the islands she 
loved so much, may care to know how, just before she 
died, she paid, as if with dim foreboding, a last visit 
to the old familiar places of the tiny world that was 
so dear to her. Day after day she called those who 
were with her to walk or sail; once to spend a long 
afternoon among the high cliffs of Star Island where 
we sat in the shade behind the old church, and she 
spoke of the year that she spent in the Gosport par- 
sonage, and went there with us, to find old memories 
waiting to surprise her in the worn doorways, and 
ghosts and fancies of her youth tenanting all the an- 



PREFACE VU 



cient rooms. Once we went to the lighthouse on 
White Island, where she walked lightly over the 
rough rocks with wonted feet, and showed us many 
a trace of her childhood, and sang some quaint old 
songs, as we sat on the cliff looking seaward, with 
a touching lovely ca*^.ence in her voice, an unfor- 
gotten cadence to any one who ever heard her sing. 
We sat by the Spaniards' graves through a long 
summer twilight, and she repeated her poem as if its 
familiar words were new, and we talked of many 
things as we watched the sea. And on Appledore she 
showed us all the childish playgrounds dearest to her 
and to her brothers, — the cupboard in a crevice of 
rock, the old wells and cellars, the tiny stone-walled 
enclosures, the worn doorsteps of unremembered houses. 
We crept under the Sheep rock for shelter out of a 
sudden gust of rain, we found some of the rarer wild 
flowers in their secret places. In one of these it 
thrills me now to remember that she saw a new white 
flower, strange to her and to the island, which seemed 
to reach up to her hand. "This never bloomed on 
Appledore before," she said, and looked at it with 
grave wonder. "It has not quite bloomed yet," she 
said, standing before the flower; " I shall come here 
again; " and then we went our unreturning way up the 
footpath that led over the ledges, and left the new 
flower growing in its deep windless hollow on the soft 
green turf. 



viii PEEFACE 

It was midsummer, and the bayberry bushes were 
all a bright and shining green, and we watched a 
sandpiper, and heard the plaintive cry that begged us 
not to find and trouble its nest. Under the very rocks 
and gray ledges, to the far nests of the wild sea birds, 
her love and knowledge seemed to go. She was made 
of that very dust, and set about with that sea, islanded 
indeed in the reserves of her lonely nature with its 
storms and calmness of high tides, but it seemed as if 
a little star dust must have been mixed with the ordi- 
nary dust of those coasts; there was something bright 
in her spirit that will forever shine, and light the 
hearts of those who loved her. It will pass on to a 
later time in these poems that she wrote of music, of 
spring and winter, of flowers and birds, and of that 
northern sea which was her friend and fellow. 

S. 0. J. 



CONTENTS 



PAQB 

Land-locked 1 

Off Shoee 2 

Expectation 4 

The Wreck of the Pocahontas 6 

A Thanksgiving » 11 

The Minute-guns 12 

Seaward 14 

Rock Weeds 15 

The Sandpiper 18 

Twilight 19 

The Swallow 20 

A Grateful Heart 22 

The Spaniards' Graves 24 

Watching 25 

In May 27 

A Summer Day 29 

Regret 32 

Before Sunrise 34 

By the Roadside 37 

Sorrow 39 

November 41 

Courage 41 

Remembrance 43 

Song : " We sail toward Evening's lonely Star" . 44 

A Tryst 45 

Imprisoned 48 

Presage 50 



X CONTENTS 

Midsummer Midnight 51 

April Days 53 

Heartbreak Hill 54 

The Song-Sparrow 57 

In Kittery Churchyard 59 

At the Breakers' Edge 61 

"For Thoughts" 63 

Wherefore 64 

guendolen 66 

The Watch of Boon Island 67 

Beethoven 70 

Mozart 72 

Schubert 73 

Chopin 74 

The Pimpernel 75 

By the Dead 78 

Footprints in the Sand 80 

A Broken Lily 83 

May Morning 84 

All 's Well 86 

The Secret 90 

Seaside Goldenrod 92 

March 93 

SONGl 95 

The White Rover 95 

Contrast 99 

A Faded Glove 100 

Portent 103 

Song : " Sing, little Bird, oh sing " .... 105 

Renunciation 106 

Song: "Oh the Fragrance of the Air" . . . 107 

Two Sonnets 108 

Daybreak 109 

Song : " O Love, Love, Love ! " Ill 

The Nestling Swallows 112 

Vesper Song 114 

1 By Oscar Laighton. 



CONTENTS 



XI 



Flowers in October jii 

Wait l^g 

Karen 217 

A Mussel Shell ^ hq 

Trust 120 

modjeska 222 

Song : " Swallow, sailing lightly " , ... 123 

Lars 224 

Song : " A Rushing of Wings in the Dawn " . . 127 

Thora 228 

The Happy Birds 230 

Slumber Song 232 

Starlight 232 

Song : " Hark, how sweet the Thrushes sing ! " . , 135 

Remonstrance 235 

Morning Song 238 



Beethoven 



139 



Song : "What good Gift can I bring Thee, O thou 

Dearest " 239 

With the Tide 240 

" The Sunrise never failed us yet " 142 

Enthralled 243 

Song: "Rolls the long Breaker in Splendor, and 

glances" 245 

Transition 246 

Leviathan 248 

To A Violin 249 

Philosophy 250 

Medrick and Osprey 152 

Alone 253 

Reverie 254 

Heart's-Ease 156 

Autumn 258 

Song : " Love, art Thou weary with the sultry Day? " 159 

Submission IgO 

Song : "I wore your Roses, Yesterday" . . . .162 

Spring again 162 

Sonnet : " As happy Dwellers by the Seaside hear " 165 



xii CONTENTS 

Song : " Above in her Chamber her Voice I hear " . 165 

Foreboding * . 166 

Homage 167 

Discontent 168 

Already 170 

Guests 171 

Mutation 173 

Farewell 174 

Doubt 175 

Sunset Song , 176 

"Love shall save us all" 177 

The Cruise of the Mystery 177 

Schumann's Sonata in A Minor 184 

Because of Thee 185 

Flowers for the Brave 186 

Expostulation 187 

Persistence 188 

S. E 190 

Poor Lisette 190 

To J. G. W 192 

In Tuscany 193 

Good-By, Sweet Day 195 

In Autumn 196 

West- Wind 197 

Impatience 199 

In the Lane 200 

Her Mirror 202 

For Christmas 203 

At Set of Moon 204 

My Garden 205 

Lost and Saved 208 

A Rose of Joy 209 

In September 210 

Under the Eaves 212 

November Morning 214 

In Death's Despite 217 

A Song of Hope 218 

Our Soldiers 219 



CONTENTS xiii 

Two ! 220 

Compensation 222 

Sonnet : " Back from Life's Coasts the ebbing Tide 

HAD dbawn" 224 

Joy 224 

Beloved 225 

The Answer 226 

Song : '* Past the Point and by the Beach " . . 227 

August 228 

Song : "A Bird upon a rosy Bough" . . . .229 
'* Oh tell me not of heavenly Halls " . . . . 230 

Midsummer 231 

New Year Song 232 

Captured 232 

Faith 234 

At Dawn 235 

In a Horse-Car 236 

A Valentine 238 

Within and Without 239 

Betrothed 240 

Questions 242 

Tyre and Sidon 244 

Hjelma 245 

My Hollyhock 247 

Benediction 250 

Sonnet : *•' If I do speak your Praise, forgive me, 

Sweet ! " 250 

On the Train 251 

Peace 253 

As Linnets Sing 254 

Ruth 255 

Petition . 257 

Appeal 258 



POEMS 



LAND-LOCKED 

Black lie the hills; swiftly doth daylight flee; 
And, catching gleams of sunset's dying smile, 
Through the dusk land for many a changing mile 

The river runneth softly to the sea. 

O happy river, could I follow thee ! 

O yearning heart, that never can be still ! 

O wistful eyes, that watch the steadfast hill, 
Longing for level line of solemn sea! 

Have patience; here are flowers and songs of birds, 
Beauty and fragrance, wealth of sound and sight. 
All summer's glory thine from morn till night. 

And life too full of joy for uttered words. 

Neither am I ungrateful; but I dream 
Deliciously how twilight falls to-night 
Over the glimmering water, how the light 

Dies blissfully away, until I seem 



OFF SHORE 

To feel the wind, sea-scented, on my cheek, 
To catch the sound of dusky flapping sail 
And dip of oars, and voices on the gale 

Afar off, calling low, — my name they speak ! 

O Earth! thy summer song of joy may soar 
Kinging to heaven in triumph. I but crave 
The sad, caressing murmur of the wave 

That breaks in tender music on the shore. 



OFF SHOEE 

Rock, little boat, beneath the quiet sky; 
Only the stars behold us where we lie, — 
Only the stars and yonder brightening moon. 

On the wide sea to-night alone are we; 
The sweet, bright summer day dies silently, 
Its glowing sunset will have faded soon. 

Rock softly, little boat, the while I mark 
The far off gliding sails, distinct and dark. 
Across the west pass steadily and slow. 

But on the eastern waters sad, they change 

And vanish, dream-like, gray, and cold, and strange. 

And no one knoweth whither they may go. 



OFF SHORE a 

We care not, we, drifting with wind and tide, 
While glad waves darken upon either side, 
Save where the moon sends silver sparkles down, 

And yonder slender stream of changing light, 
Now white, now crimson, tremulously bright, 
Where dark the lighthouse stands, with fiery crown. 

Thick falls the dew, soundless on sea and shore: 

It shines on little boat and idle oar. 

Wherever moonbeams touch with tranquil glow. 

The waves are full of whispers wild and sweet; 
They call to me, — incessantly they beat 
Along the boat from stern to curved prow. 

Comes the careering wind, blows back my hair, 
All damp with dew, to kiss me unaware. 
Murmuring " Thee I love," and passes on. 

Sweet sounds on rocky shores the distant rote; 
Oh could we float forever, little boat, 
Under the blissful sky drifting alone! 



EXPECTATION 



EXPECTATIOISr 



Throughout the lonely house the whole day long 
The wind-harp's fitful music sinks and swells, — 

A cry of pain, sometimes, or sad and strong. 
Or faint, like broken peals of silver bells. 

Across the little garden comes the breeze, 
Bows all its cups of flame, and brings to me 

Its breath of mignonette and bright sweet-peas. 
With drowsy murmurs from the encircling sea. 

In at the open door a crimson drift 

Of fluttering, fading woodbine leaves is blown, 
And through the clambering vine the sunbeams sift, 

And trembling shadows on the floor are thrown. 

I climb the stair, and from the window lean 
Seeking thy sail, love, that still delays; 

Longing to catch its glimmer, searching keen 
The jealous distance veiled in tender haze. 

What care I if the pansies purple be. 

Or sweet the wind-harp wails through the slow 
hours ; 
Or that the lulling music of the sea 

Comes woven with the perfume of the flowers ? 



EXPECTATION 5 

Thou comest not! I ponder o'er the leaves, 
The crimson drift behind the open door: 

Soon shall we listen to a wind that grieves, 
Mourning this glad year, dead forevermore. 

And, O my love, shall we on some sad day 

Find joys and hopes low fallen like the leaves, 

Blown by life's chilly autumn wind away 

In withered heaps God's eye alone perceives ? 

Come thou, and save me from my dreary thought! 

Who dares to question Time, what it may bring? 
Yet round us lies the radiant summer, fraught 

With beauty: must we dream of suffering? 

Yea, even so. Through this enchanted land. 
This morning-red of life, we go to meet 

The tempest in the desert, hand in hand, 

Along God's paths of pain, that seek his feet. 

But this one golden moment, — hold it fast ! 

The light grows long: low in the west the sun. 
Clear red and glorious, slowly sinks at last. 

And while I muse, the tranquil day is done. 

The land breeze freshens in thy gleaming sail! 

Across the singing waves the shadows creep: 
Under the new moon's thread of silver pale. 

With the first star, thou comest o'er the deep. 



THE WRECK OF THE POCAHONTAS 



THE WRECK OF THE POCAHONTAS 

I LIT the lamps in the lighthouse tower, 

Eor the sun dropped down and the day was dead. 

They shone like a glorious clustered flower, — 
Ten golden and five red. 

Looking across, where the line of coast 

Stretched darkly, shrinking away from the sea, 

The lights sprang out at its edge, — almost 
They seemed to answer me ! 

warning lights ! burn bright and clear. 
Hither the storm comes ! Leagues away 

It moans and thunders low and drear, — 
Burn till the break of day ! 

Good-night ! I called to the gulls that sailed 
Slow past me through the evening sky; 

And my comrades, answering shrilly, hailed 
Me back with boding cry. 

A mournful breeze began to blow; 

Weird music it drew through the iron bars; 
The sullen billows boiled below. 

And dimly peered the stars; 



THE WRECK OF THE POCAHONTAS 

The sails that flecked the ocean floor 
From east to west leaned low and fled; 

They knew what came in the distant roar 
That filled the air with dread! 

Flung by a fitful gust, there beat 
Against the window a dash of rain: 

Steady as tramp of marching feet 
Strode on the hurricane. 

It smote the waves for a moment still, 
Level and deadly white for fear; 

The bare rock shuddered, — an awful thrill 
Shook even my tower of cheer. 

Like all the demons loosed at last, 

Whistling and shrieking, wild and wide, 

The mad wind raged, while strong and fast 
EoUed in the rising tide. 

And soon in ponderous showers, the spray, 
Struck from the granite, reared and sprung 

And clutched at tower and cottage gray, 
Where overwhelmed they clung 

Half drowning to the naked rock ; 

But still burned on the faithful light. 
Nor faltered at the tempest's shock. 

Through all the fearful night. 



THE WRECK OF THE POCAHONTAS 

Was it in vain 1 That knew not we. 

We seemed, in that confusion vast 
Of rushing wind and roaring sea, 

One point whereon was cast 

The whole Atlantic's weight of brine. 

Heaven help the ship should drift our way ! 
No matter how the light might shine 

Far on into the day. 

When morning dawned, above the din 
Of gale and breaker boomed a gun! 

Another! We who sat within 
Answered with cries each one. 

Into each other's eyes with fear 

We looked through helpless tears, as still, 
One after one, near and more near, 

The signals pealed, until 

The thick storm seemed to break apart 
To show us, staggering to her grave. 

The fated brig. We had no heart 
To look, for naught could save. 

One glimpse of black hull heaving slow. 
Then closed the mists o'er canvas torn 

And tangled ropes swept to and fro 
From masts that raked forlorn. 



THE WKECK OF THE POCAHONTAS 

Weeks after, yet ringed round with spray 
Our island lay, and none might land; 

Though blue the waters of the bay 
Stretched calm on either hand. 

And when at last from the distant shore 
A little boat stole out, to reach 

Our loneliness, and bring once more 
Eresh human thought and speech, 

We told our tale, and the boatmen cried: 
" 'T was the Pocahontas, — all were lost ! 

For miles along the coast the tide 
Her shattered timbers tossed." 

Then I looked the whole horizon round, — 

So beautiful the ocean spread 
About us, o'er those sailors drowned! 

" Father in heaven, " I said, — 

A child's grief struggling in my breast, — 
" Do purposeless thy children meet 

Such bitter death? How was it best 
These hearts should cease to beat? 

" Oh wherefore ? Are we naught to Thee ? 
Like senseless weeds that rise and fall 
Upon thine awful sea, are we 
No more then, after all ? " 



10 THE WEECK OF THE POCAHONTAS 

And I shut the beauty from my sight, 

For I thought of the dead that lay below; 

From the bright air faded the warmth and light, 
There came a chill like snow. 

Then I heard the far-off rote resound, 

Where the breakers slow and slumberous rolled, 

And a subtile sense of Thought profound 
Touched me with power untold. 

And like a voice eternal spake 

That wondrous rhythm, and, " Peace, be still ! '* 
It murmured, " bow thy head and take 

Life's rapture and life's ill, 

"And wait. At last all shall be clear." 
The long, low, mellow music rose 
And fell, and soothed my dreaming ear 
With infinite repose. 

Sighing I climbed the lighthouse stair. 
Half forgetting my grief and pain; 

And while the day died, sweet and fair, 
I lit the lamps again. 



A THANKSGIVING 11 



A thanksgiving- 
High on the ledge the wind blows the bayberry 

bright, 
Turning the leaves till they shudder and shine in the 

light; 
Yellow St. John's-wort and yarrow are nodding their 

heads, 
Iris and wild-rose are glowing in purples and reds. 

Swift flies the schooner careering beyond o'er the blue; 
Faint shows the furrow she leaves as she cleaves lightly 

through ; 
Gay gleams the fluttering flag at her delicate mast; 
Full swell the sails with the wind that is following fast. 

Quail and sandpiper and swallow and sparrow are here : 
Sweet sound their manifold notes, high and low, far 

and near; 
Chorus of musical waters, the rush of the breeze, 
Steady and strong from the south, — what glad voices 

are these ! 

O cup of the wild- rose, curved close to hold odorous 

dew. 
What thought do you hide in your heart ? I would 

that I knew ! 



12 THE MINUTE-GUNS 

beautiful Iris, unfurling your purple and gold, 
What victory fling you abroad in the flags you unfold 1 

Sweet may your thought be, red rose, but still sweeter 

is mine, 
Close in my heart hidden, clear as your dewdrop 

divine. 
Flutter your gonfalons. Iris, the paean I sing 
Is for victory better than joy or than beauty can bring. 

Into thy calm eyes, Nature, I look and rejoice; 
Prayerful, I add my one note to the Infinite voice: 
As shining and singing and sparkling glides on the 

glad day. 
And eastward the swift-rolling planet wheels into the 

gray. 

THE MINUTE-GUNS 

I STOOD within the little cove. 

Full of the morning's life and hope, 

While heavily the eager waves 

Charged thundering up the rocky slope. 

The splendid breakers ! How they rushed, 
All emerald green and flashing white. 

Tumultuous in the morning sun. 

With cheer and sparkle and delight! 



THE MINUTE-GUNS 13 

And freshly blew the fragrant wind, 
The wild sea wind, across their tops, 

And caught the spray and flung it far 
In sweeping showers of glittering drops. 

Within the cove all flashed and foamed 
With many a fleeting rainbow hue; 

Without, gleamed bright against the sky 
A tender wavering line of blue. 

Where tossed the distant waves, and far 

Shone silver- white a quiet sail; 
And overhead the soaring gulls 

With graceful pinions stemmed the gale. 

And all my pulses thrilled with joy. 
Watching the winds' and waters' strife, 

With sudden rapture, — and I cried, 

" Oh, sweet is life ! Thank God for life ! " 

Sailed any cloud across the sky. 

Marring this glory of the sun's? 
Over the sea, from distant forts. 

There came the boom of minute-guns! 

War-tidings ! Many a brave soul fled. 
And many a heart the message stuns! 

I saw no more the joyous waves, 
I only heard the minute-guns. 



H SEAWARD 

SEAWAED 



TO 



How long it seems since that mild April night, 
When, leaning from the window, you and I 

Heard, clearly ringing from the shadowy bight, 
The loon's unearthly cry ! 

Southwest the wind blew, million little waves 
Ean rippling round the point in mellow tune, 

But mournful, like the voice of one who raves, 
That laughter of the loon! 

"We called to him, while blindly through the haze 
Uprose the meagre moon behind us, slow, 

So dim, the fleet of boats we scarce could trace, 
Moored lightly just below. 

We called, and lo, he answered! Half in fear 
We sent the note back. Echoing rock and bay 

Made melancholy music far and near, 
Sadly it died away. 

That schooner, you remember 1 Flying ghost ! 

Her canvas catching every wandering beam, 
Aerial, noiseless, past the glimmering coast 

She glided like a dream. 



ROCK WEEDS 15 

Would we were leaning from your window now, 

Together calling to the eerie loon, 
The fresh wind blowing care from either brow, 

This sumptuous night of June ! 

So many sighs load this sweet inland air, 

'T is hard to breathe, nor can we find relief, — 

However lightly touched we all must share 
This nobleness of grief. 

But sighs are spent before they reach your ear; 

Vaguely they mingle with the water's rune, 
No sadder sound salutes you than the clear. 

Wild laughter of the loon. 



BOCK WEEDS 

So bleak these shores, wind-swept and all the year 
Washed by the wild Atlantic's restless tide. 

You would not dream that flowers the woods hold dear 
Amid such desolation dare abide. 

Yet when the bitter winter breaks, some day, 
With soft winds fluttering her garments' hem. 

Up from the sweet South comes the lingering May, 
Sets the first wind-flower trembling on its stem; 



IG KOCK WEEDS 

Scatters her violets with lavish hands, 

White, blue, and amber; calls the columbine, 

Till like cloar tlamo in lonely nooks, gay bands 
Swinging their scarlet bells, ol)ey the sign; 

Makes buttercups and daiidelions blajse. 

And throws in glimmering patches here and there, 
The little t>yebright's pearls, and gently lays 

The impress of her beauty everywhere. 

Later, June bids the sweet wild ivse to blow ; 

Wakes from its dream the drowsy pimpernel; 
Unfolds the bindweed's ivory buds, that glow 

Aa delicately blushing as a shell. 

Then purple Iris smiles, and hour by hour. 
The fair procession multiplies; and soon. 

In clusters cit>amy white, the elder- tlower 

AVaves its bivad disk against the rising moon. 

O'er quiet beaches shelving to the sea 

TtUl mulleins sway, and thistles ; all day long 

Flows in the wooing water dreamily, 

With subtile music in its slumbei\)us song. 

Hexb-robert hears, and prineess'-feather bright, 
And goldtluvad clas^>s the little skull-cap blue; 



HOOK WEEDS 17 

Ami troDpH of H\viill«>WH, f^'athoriii^' for Uioir (li^'l'L 
O'ov gohUMUoil iiiid iiMlnr.i hohl loviow. 

Tho barren ialiuul *lr»uuiiM iii llo\v«^rM, wliilo Mow 
Tlio Hoiith wiiuls, dniwiii^ Im/o (>^^r M(mi ami land; 

Vol tho groat, hoart of ocoaii, lliroliliiiig hIow, 

Makoa tho frail blosBOiuB vibrato wUovo Mu^y Mtaiid ; 

And liintH of lioavior pnlRoa soon to shako 
IIh mighty b^^^aMt \\\um Hummt^r in no moro, 

And dovaHtating wavt^a H\v«^t^l> on aiul l)r^^aU, 
And ohlH]) with girdlo wliitt* tht^ iron ^^llor^^. 

(M()H(s foldod, mio within iUo Hholtoring nood, 
BloHHom antl lu^ll ami h^afy bt^auty hide; 

Nor icy blant, nor bittor H^ray thoy hood, 
Hnt ])ati(Mitly tlioir \V(»mb'oiiH chnngo abide. 

Tho lioart of (Jod Mirough lii.s croation ntirH, 
Wo thrill to fool it, trombling aw tlu^ lloworn 

That dio to live again, — bin nioaHongorn, 

To koop faith 11 rm in thoao sad aoula of ours. 

Tho wavoH of Tinio may dovaatatc^ our livoa, 

Tho froata of ago may cIuh-U our failing breath, 

Thoy ahall not touch tho apirit that aurvivea 
Trium[thant ovt^r doubt and i>ain antl d(uith. 



18 THE SANDPIPER 



THE SANDPIPER 



Across the narrow beach we flit, 

One little sandpiper and I, 
And fast I gather, bit by bit. 

The scattered driftwood bleached and dry. 
The wild waves reach their hands for it. 

The wild wind raves, the tide runs high, 
As up and down the beach we flit, — 

One little sandpiper and I. 

Above our heads the sullen clouds 

Scud black and swift across the sky; 
Like silent ghosts in misty shrouds 

Stand out the white lighthouses high. 
Almost as far as eye can reach 

I see the close-reefed vessels fly, 
As fast we flit along the beach, — 

One little sandpiper and I. 

I watch him as he skims along, 

Uttering his sweet and mournful cry. 
He starts not at my fitful song. 

Or flash of fluttering drapery. 
He has no thought of any wrong; 

He scans me with a fearless eye. 
Stanch friends are we, well tried and strong, 

The little sandpiper and I. 



TWILIGHT 19 

Comrade, where wilt thou be to-night 

When the loosed storm breaks furiously ? 
My driftwood fire will burn so bright! 

To what warm shelter canst thou fly ? 
I do not fear for thee, though wroth 

The tempest rushes through the sky: 
For are we not God's children both, 

Thou, little sandpiper, and 1 1 



TWILIGHT 

September's slender crescent grows again 
Distinct in yonder peaceful evening red. 
Clearer the stars are sparkling overhead. 

And all the sky is pure, without a stain. 

Cool blows the evening wind from out the West 

And bows the flowers, the last sweet flowers that 

bloom, — 
Pale asters, many a heavy-waving plume 

Of goldenrod that bends as if opprest. 

The summer's songs are hushed. Up the lone shore 
The weary waves wash sadly, and a grief 
Sounds in the wind, like farewells fond and brief. 

The cricket's chirp but makes the silence more. 



20 THE SWALLOW 

Life's autumn comes; the leaves begin to fall; 

The moods of spring and summer pass away ; 

The glory and the rapture, day by day, 
Depart, and soon the quiet grave folds all. 

O thoughtful sky, how many eyes in vain 
Are lifted to your beauty, full of tears ! 
How many hearts go back through all the years, 

Heavy with loss, eager with questioning pain, 

To read the dim Hereafter, to obtain 

One glimpse beyond the earthly curtain, where 
Their dearest dwell, where they may be or e'er 

September's slender crescent shines again ! 



THE SWALLOW 

The swallow twitters about the eaves; 

Blithely she sings, and sweet and clear; 
Around her climb the woodbine leaves 

In a golden atmosphere. 

The summer wind sways leaf and spray, 
That catch and cling to the cool gray wall; 

The bright sea stretches miles away. 
And the noon sun shines o'er all. 



THE SWALLOW 21 

In the chamber's shadow, quietly, 

I stand and worship the sky and the leaves, 

The golden air and the brilliant sea, 
The swallow at the eaves. 

Like a living jewel she sits and sings; 

Fain would I read her riddle aright. 
Fain would I know whence her rapture springs, 

So strong in a thing so slight ! 

The fine, clear fire of joy that steals 
Through all my spirit at what I see 

In the glimpse my window's space reveals, — 
That seems no mystery ! 

But scarce for her joy can she utter her song; 

Yet she knows not the beauty of skies or seas. 
Is it bliss of living, so sweet and strong ? 

Is it love, which is more than these ? 

O happy creature ! what stirs thee so ? 

A spark of the gladness of God thou art. 
Why should we seek to find and to know 

The secret of thy heart? 

Before the gates of his mystery 

Trembling we knock with an eager hand; 
Silent behind them waiteth He ; 

Not yet may we understand. 



22 A GRATEFUL HEART 

But thrilling throughout the universe 
Throhs the pulse of his mighty will, 

Till we gain the knowledge of joy or curse 
In the choice of good or ill. 

He looks from the eyes of the little child, 
And searches souls with their gaze so clear; 

To the heart some agony makes wild 
He whispers, "I am here." 

He smiles in the face of every flower; 

In the swallow's twitter of sweet content 
He speaks, and we follow through every hour 

The way his deep thought went. 

Here should be courage and hope and faith; 

Naught has escaped the trace of his hand; 
And a voice in the heart of his silence saith, 

One day we shall understand. 



A GRATEFUL HEART 

Last night I stole away alone, to find 
A mellow crescent setting o'er the sea, 
And lingered in its light, while over me 

Blew fitfully the grieving autumn wind. 



A GKATEFUL HEART 23 

And somewhat sadly to myself I said, 

"Summer is gone," and watched how bright and 

fast 
Through the moon's track the little waves sped 
past, — 
" Summer is gone ! her golden days are dead. " 

Eegretfully I thought, " Since I have trod 
Earth's ways with willing or reluctant feet, 
Never did season bring me days more sweet. 

Crowned with rare joys and priceless gifts from God. 

"And they are gone: they will return no more." 
The slender moon went down, all red and still: 
The stars shone clear, the silent dews fell chill; 

The waves with ceaseless murmur washed the shore. 

A low voice spake: "And wherefore art thou sad? 
Here in thy heart all summer folded lies, 
And smiles in sunshine though the sweet time dies; 

'Tis thine to keep forever fresh and glad! " 

Yea, gentle voice, though the fair days depart. 
And skies grow cold above the restless sea, 
God's gifts are measureless, and there shall be 

Eternal summer in the grateful heart. 



24 THE SPANIARDS' GRAVES 

THE SPANIARDS' GRAVES 

AT THE ISLES OF SHOALS 

SAILORS, did sweet eyes look after you 
The day you sailed away from sunny Spain? 

Bright eyes that followed fading ship and crew, 
Melting in tender rain? 

Did no one dream of that drear night to he, 

Wild with the wind, fierce with the stinging snow, 

When on yon granite point that frets the sea, 
The ship met her death-blow ? 

Fifty long years ago these sailors died: 

(None know how many sleep beneath the waves:) 
Fourteen gray headstones, rising side by side, 

Point out their nameless graves, — 

Lonely, unknown, deserted, but for me, 

And the wild birds that flit with mournful cry, 

And sadder winds, and voices of the sea 
That moans perpetually. 

Wives, mothers, maidens, wistfully, in vain 
Questioned the distance for the yearning sail. 

That, leaning landward, should have stretched again 
White arms wide on the gale. 



WATCHING 25 

To bring back their beloved. Year by year, 

Weary they watched, till youth and beauty passed, 

And lustrous eyes grew dim and age drew near, 
And hope was dead at last. 

Still summer broods o'er that delicious land, 

Eich, fragrant, warm with skies of golden glow: 

Live any yet of that forsaken band 
Who loved so long ago? 

O Spanish women, over the far seas. 

Could I but show you where your dead repose ! 

Could I send tidings on this northern breeze 
That strong and steady blows ! 

Dear dark- eyed sisters, you remember yet 

These you have lost, but you can never know 

One stands at their bleak graves whose eyes are 
wet 
With thinking of your woe ! 



WATCHING 

In childhood's season fair. 
On many a balmy, moonless summer night. 
While wheeled the lighthouse arms of dark and bright 

Far through the humid air; 



26 WATCHING 

How patient have I been, 
Sitting alone, a happy little maid, 
Waiting to see, careless and unafraid, 

My father's boat come in; 

Close to the water's edge 
Holding a tiny spark, that he might steer 
(So dangerous the landing, far and near) 

Safe past the ragged ledge. 

I had no fears, — not one ; 
The wild, wide waste of water leagues around 
Washed ceaselessly; there was no human sound. 

And I was all alone. 

But Nature was so kind! 
Like a dear friend I loved the loneliness; 
My heart rose glad, as at some sweet caress, 

When passed the wandering wind. 

Yet it was joy to hear. 
From out the darkness, sounds grow clear at last, 
Of rattling rowlock, and of creaking mast, 

And voices drawing near ! 

" Is 't thou, dear father ? Say ! " 
What well-known shout resounded in reply. 
As loomed the tall sail, smitten suddenly 

With the great lighthouse ray ! 



IN MAY 27 

I will be patient now, 
Dear Heavenly Father, waiting here for Thee: 
I know the darkness holds Thee. Shall I be 

Afraid, when it is Thou ? 

On thy eternal shore, 
In pauses, when life's tide is at its prime, 
I hear the everlasting rote of Time 

Beating for evermore. 

Shall I not then rejoice ? 
Oh, never lost or sad should child of thine 
Sit waiting, fearing lest there come no sign, 

No whisper of thy voice ! 

IN MAY 

That was a curlew calling overhead, 

That fine, clear whistle shaken from the clouds: 
See ! hovering o'er the swamp with wings outspread. 

He sinks where at its edge in shining crowds 
The yellow violets dance as they unfold. 
In the blithe spring wind, all their green and gold. 

Blithe south-wind, spreading bloom upon the sea, 
Drawing about the world this band of haze 

So softly delicate, and bringing me 

A touch of balm that like a blessing stays; 



28 IN MAY 

Though beauty like a dream bathes sea and land, 
For the first time Death holds me by the hand. 

Yet none the less the swallows weave above 

Through the bright air a web of light and song, 

And calling clear and sweet from cove to cove, 
The sandpiper, the lonely rocks among, 

Makes wistful music, and the singing sea 

Sends its strong chorus upward solemnly. 

Mother Nature, infinitely dear! 
Vainly I search the beauty of thy face. 

Vainly thy myriad voices charm my ear; 

I cannot gather from thee any trace 
Of God's intent. Help me to understand 
Why, this sweet morn, Death holds me by the hand. 

1 watch the waves, shoulder to shoulder set. 

That strive and vanish and are seen no more. 
The earth is sown with graves that we forget, 

And races of mankind the wide world o'er 
Rise, strive, and vanish, leaving naught behind. 
Like changing waves swept by the changing wind. 

" Hard-hearted, cold, and blind, " she answers me, 
"Vexing thy soul with riddles hard to guess! 

No waste of any atom canst thou see, 
Nor make I any gesture purposeless. 



A SUMMER DAY 29 

Lift thy dim eyes up to the conscious sky ! 
God meant that rapture in the curlew's cry. 

"He holds his whirling worlds in check; not one 

May from its awful orhit swerve aside; 
Yet breathes He in this south-wind, bids the sun 

Wake the fair flowers He fashioned, far and wide, 
And this strong pain thou canst not understand 
Is but his grasp on thy reluctant hand." 

A SUMMER DAY 

At daybreak in the fresh light, joyfully 

The fishermen drew in their laden net; 
The shore shone rosy purple, and the sea 
Was streaked with violet; 

And pink with sunrise, many a shadowy sail 

Lay southward, lighting up the sleeping bay; 
And in the west the white moon, still and pale, 
Faded before the day. 

Silence was everywhere. The rising tide 

Slowly filled every cove and inlet small; 
A musical low whisper, multiplied. 
You heard, and that was all. 

No clouds at dawn, but as the sun climbed higher, 
White columns, thunderous, splendid, up the sky 



30 A SUMMER DAY 

Floated and stood, heaped in his steady fire, 
A stately company. 

Stealing along the coast from cape to cape 
The weird mirage crept tremulously on. 
In many a magic change and wondrous shape, 
Throbbing beneath the sun. 

At noon the wind rose, swept the glassy sea 

To sudden ripple, thrust against the clouds 
A strenuous shoulder, gathering steadily. 
Drove them before in crowds; 

Till all the west was dark, and inky black 

The level-ruffled water underneath, 
And up the wind cloud tossed, — a ghostly rack. 
In many a ragged wreath. 

Then sudden roared the thunder, a great peal 

Magnificent, that broke and rolled away ; 
And down the wind plunged, like a furious keel. 
Cleaving the sea to spray; 

And brought the rain sweeping o'er land and sea. 
And then was tumult! Lightning sharp and 
keen. 
Thunder, wind, rain, — a mighty jubilee 
The heaven and earth between! 



A SUMMER DAY 31 

Loud the roused ocean sang, a chorus grand; 

A solemn music rolled in undertone 
Of waves that broke about, on either hand, 
The little island lone; 

Where, joyful in his tempest as his calm, 
Held in the hollow of that hand of his, 
I joined with heart and soul in God's great psalm, 
Thrilled with a nameless bliss. 

Soon lulled the wind, the summer storm soon died; 

The shattered clouds went eastward, drifting slow; 
From the low sun the rain-fringe swept aside. 
Bright in his rosy glow, 

And wide a splendor streamed through all the sky; 

O'er sea and land one soft, delicious blush. 
That touched the gray rocks lightly, tenderly; 
A transitory flush. 

Warm, odorous gusts blew off the distant land, 

With spice of pine-woods, breath of hay new 
mown. 
O'er miles of waves and sea scents cool and bland, 
Full in our faces blown. 

Slow faded the sweet light, and peacefully 
The quiet stars came out, one after one: 



32 KEGRET 

The holy twilight fell upon the sea, 
The summer day was done. 

Such unalloyed delight its hours had given, 

Musing, this thought rose in my grateful mind, 
That God, who watches all things, up in heaven. 
With patient eyes and kind. 

Saw and was pleased, perhaps, one child of his 

Dared to be happy like the little birds. 
Because He gave his children days like this, 
Kejoicing beyond words; 

Dared, lifting up to Him untroubled eyes 

In gratitude that worship is, and prayer, 
Sing and be glad with ever new surprise, 
He made his world so fair! 

EEGEET 

Softly Death touched her, and she passed away 
Out of this glad, bright world she made more fair. 

Sweet as the apple-blossoms, when in May 
The orchards flush, of summer grown aware. 

All that fresh, delicate beauty gone from sight. 
That gentle, gracious presence felt no more! 

How must the house be emptied of delight, 

What shadows on the threshold she passed o'er! 



REGRET 33 

She loved me. Surely I was grateful, yet 
I could not give her back all she gave me. 

Ever I think of it with vague regret, 
Musing upon a summer by the sea: 

Remembering troops of merry girls who pressed 
About me — clinging arms and tender eyes. 

And love, like scent of roses. With the rest 
She came, to fill my heart with new surprise. 

The day I left them all, and sailed away, 

While o'er the calm sea, 'neath the soft gray sky, 

They waved farewell, she followed me, to say 
Yet once again her wistful, sweet "good-by.'^ 

At the boat's bow she drooped; her light-green dress 
Swept o'er the skiff in many a graceful fold; 

Her glowing face, bright with a mute caress. 
Crowned with her lovely hair of shadowy gold: 

And tears she dropped into the crystal brine 
Tor me, unworthy — as we slowly swung 

Free of the mooring. Her last look was mine, 
Seeking me still the motley crowd among. 

O tender memory of the dead I hold 

So precious through the fret and change of years ! 
Were I to live till Time itself grew old. 

The sad sea would be sadder for those tears. 



34 BEFORE SUNRISE 



BEFORE SUNRISE 

This grassy gorge, as daylight failed last night, 

I traversed toward the west, where, thin and 
young, 

Bent like Diana's bow and silver bright. 
Half lost in rosy haze, a crescent hung. 

I paused upon the beach's upper edge: 
The violet east all shadowy lay behind; 

Southward the lighthouse glittered o'er the ledge, 
And lightly, softly blew the western wind. 

And at my feet, between the turf and stone, 
Wild roses, bayberry, purple thistles tall, 

And pink horb-robert grow, where shells were strown 
And morning-glory vines climbed over alL 

I stooped the closely folded buds to note. 
That gleamed in the dim light mysteriously, 

Wliile, full of whispers of the far-off rote, 
Summer's enchanted dusk crept o'er the sea. 

And sights and sounds and sea-scents delicate, 
So wrought upon my soul with sense of bliss, 

Happy I sat as if at heaven's gate, 

Asking on earth no greater joy than this. 



BEFORE SUNRISE 35 

And now, at dawn, upon the beach again, 
Kneeling I wait the coming of the sun, 

Watching the looser-folded buds, and fain 
To see the marvel of their day begun. 

All the world lies so dewy-fresh and still! 

Whispers so gently all the water wide, 
Hardly it breaks the silence : from the hill 

Come clear bird-voices mingling with the tide. 

Sunset or dawn: which is the lovelier? Lol 
My darlings, sung to all the balmy night 

By summer waves and softest winds that blow. 
Begin to feel the thrilling of the light I 

Ked lips of roses, waiting to be kissed 

By early sunshine, soon in smiles will break. 

But oh, ye morning-glories, that keep tryst 
With the first ray of daybreak, ye awake ! 

bells of triumph, ringing noiseless peals 

Of unimagined music to the day I 
Almost I could believe each blossom feels 

The same delight that sweeps my soul away. 

O bells of triumph! delicate trumpets, thrown 

Heavenward and earthward, turned east, west, north, 
south. 



36 BEFORE SUNRISE 

In lavish beauty, who through you has blown 

This sweet cheer of the morning with calm mouth ? 

'Tis God who breathes the triumph; He who 
wrought 

The tender curves, and laid the tints divine 
Along the lovely lines; the Eternal Thought 

That troubles all our lives with wise design. 

Yea, out of pain and death his beauty springs, 
And out of doubt a deathless confidence: 

Though we are shod with leaden cares, our wings 
Shall lift us yet out of our deep suspense ! 

Thou great Creator! Pardon us who reach 
For other heaven beyond this world of thine, 

This matchless world, where thy least touch doth 
teach 
Thy solemn lessons clearly, line on line. 

And help us to be grateful, we who live 
Such sordid, fretful lives of discontent. 

Nor see the sunshine nor the flower, nor strive 
To find the love thy bitter chastening meant. 



BY THE ROADSIDE 37 



BY THE EOADSIDE 

Dropped the warm rain from the brooding sky- 
Softly all the summer afternoon; 

Up the road I loitered carelessly, 
Glad to be alive in blissful June. 

Though so gray the sky, and though the mist 
Swept the hills and half their beauty hid; 

Though the scattering drops the broad leaves kissed, 
And no ray betwixt the vapor slid, 

Yet the daisies tossed their white and gold 

In the quiet fields on either side, 
And the green gloom deepened in the old 

Walnut-trees that flung their branches wide; 

And the placid river wound away 

Westward to the hills through meadows fair, 
Flower-fringed and starred, while blithe and gay 

Called the blackbirds through the balmy air. 

Eight and left I scanned the landscape round; 

Every shape, and scent, and wild bird's call, 
Every color, curve, and gentle sound. 

Deep into my heart I gathered all. 



38 BY THE ROADSIDE 

Up I looked, and down upon the sod 

Sprinkled thick with violets blue and bright; 
"Surely, ' Through his garden walketh God,' " 
Low I whispered, full of my delight. 

Like a vision, on the path before, 

Came a little rosy, sun- browned maid, 

Straying toward me from her cottage door, 
Paused, up-looking shyly, half afraid. 

Never word she spake, but gazing so, 

Slow a smile rose to her clear brown eyes. 

Overflowed her face with such a glow 

That I thrilled with sudden, sweet surprise. 

Here was sunshine 'neath the cloudy skies! 

Low I knelt to bring her face to mine; 
Sweeter, brighter grew^ her shining eyes, 

Yet she gave me neither word nor sign. 

But within her look a blessing beamed; 

Meek I grew before it; was it just? 
Was I worthy this pure light that streamed? 

Such approval, and such love and trust 1 

Half the flowers I carried in my hands 
Lightly in her pretty arms I laid; 



SORROW 89 

Silent, but as one who understands, 
Clasped them close the rosy little maid. 

Fair behind the honeysuckle spray 
Shone her innocent, delightful face ! 

Then I rose and slowly went my way, 
Left her standing, lighting all the place. 

While her golden look stole after me, 

Lovelier bloomed the violets where I trod; 

More divine earth's beauty seemed to be: 
"Through his garden visibly walked God." 

SOKKOW 

Upon my lips she laid her touch divine, 

And merry speech and careless laughter died; 

She fixed her melancholy eyes on mine, 
And would not be denied. 

I saw the west wind loose his cloudlets white 
In flocks, careering through the April sky ; 

I could not sing though joy was at its height, 
For she stood silent by. 

I watched the lovely evening fade away ; 
A mist was lightly drawn across the stars; 



40 SORROW 

She broke my quiet dream, I heard her say, 
" Behold your prison bars ! 

"Earth's gladness shall not satisfy your soul, 
This beauty of the world in which you live; 
The crowning grace that sanctifies the whole, 
That, I alone can give." 

I heard and shrank away from her afraid; 

But still she held me and would still abide; 
Youth's bounding pulses slackened and obeyed, 

With slowly ebbing tide. 

"Look thou beyond the evening star," she said, 
"Beyond the changing splendors of the day; 
Accept the pain, the weariness, the dread. 
Accept and bid me stay ! " 

I turned and clasped her close with sudden strength, 
And slowly, sweetly, I became aware 

Within my arms God's angel stood at length. 
White-robed and calm and fair. 

And now I look beyond the evening star, 
Beyond the changing splendors of the day. 

Knowing the pain He sends more precious far, 
More beautiful, than they. 



COURAGE 41 



NOVEMBEE 



There is no wind at all to-night 
To dash the drops against the pane; 

No sound abroad, nor any light, 
And sadly falls the autumn rain; 

There is no color in the world. 

No lovely tint on hill or plain; 
The summer's golden sails are furled, 

And sadly falls the autumn rain. 

The earth lies tacitly beneath, 

As it were dead to joy or pain : 
It does not move, it does not breathe, — 

And sadly falls the autumn rain. 

And all my heart is patient too, 

I wait till it shall wake again; 
The songs of spring shall sound anew. 

Though sadly falls the autumn rain. 

COURAGE 

Because I hold it sinful to despond, 
And will not let the bitterness of life 

Blind me with burning tears, but look beyond 
Its tumult and its strife; 



42 COURAGE 

Because I lift my head above the mist, 

Where the sun shines and the broad breezes blow, 

By every ray and every raindrop kissed 
That God's love doth bestow; 

Think you I find no bitterness at all ? 

No burden to be borne, like Christian's pack ? 
Think you there are no ready tears to fall 

Because I keep them back ? 

Why should I hug life's ills with cold reserve. 
To curse myself and all who love me ? Nay ! 

A thousand times more good than I deserve 
God gives me every day. 

And in each one of these rebellious tears, 

Kept bravely back. He makes a rainbow shine; 

Grateful I take his slightest gift, no fears 
Nor any doubts are mine. 

Dark skies must clear, and when the clouds are past, 
One golden day redeems a weary year; 

Patient I listen, sure that sweet at last 
Will sound his voice of cheer. 

Then vex me not with chiding. Let me be. 

I must be glad and grateful to the end. 
I grudge you not your cold and darkness, — me 

The powers of light befriend. 



REMEMBRANCE 43 



REMEMBRANCE 



Fragrant and soft the summer wind doth blow. 
Weary I lie, with heavy, half-shut eyes. 
And watch, while wistful thoughts within me 
rise. 

The curtain idly swaying to and fro. 

There comes a sound of household toil from far, 
A woven murmur: voices shrill and sweet, 
Clapping of doors, and restless moving feet, 

And tokens faint of fret, and noise, and jar. 

Without, the broad earth shimmers in the glare, 
Through the clear noon high rides the blazing 

sun, 
The birds are hushed; the cricket's chirp alone 

With tremulous music cleaves the drowsy air. 

I think, — "Past the gray rocks the wavelets run; 

The gold- brown seaweed drapes the ragged ledge; 

And brooding, silent, at the water's edge 
The white gull sitteth, shining in the sun." 



44 SONG 



SONG 



We sail toward evening's lonely star 

That trembles in the tender blue; 
One single cloud, a dusky bar, 

Burnt with dull carmine through and through, 
Slow smouldering in the summer sky, 

Lies low along the fading west. 
How sweet to watch its splendors die, 

Wave-cradled thus and wind-caressed! 

The soft breeze freshens, leaps the spray 

To kiss our cheeks, with sudden cheer; 
Upon the dark edge of the bay 

Lighthouses kindle, far and near, 
And through the warm deeps of the sky 

Steal faint star- clusters, while we rest 
In deep refreshment, thou and I, 

Wave-cradled thus and wind- caressed. 

How like a dream are earth and heaven, 

Star- beam and darkness, sky and sea; 
Thy face, pale in the shadowy even, 

Thy quiet eyes that gaze on me ! 
Oh, realize the moment's charm. 

Thou dearest! we are at life's best, 
Folded in God's encircling arm. 

Wave- cradled thus and wind- caressed. 



A TRYST 45 



A TRYST 



From out the desolation of the North 

An iceberg took its way, 
From its detaining comrades breaking forth, 

And traveling night and day. 

At whose command? Who bade it sail the deep 

With that resistless force 1 
Who made the dread appointment it must keep ? 

Who traced its awful course ? 

To the warm airs that stir in the sweet South, 

A good ship spread her sails; 
Stately she passed beyond the harbor's mouth, 

Chased by the favoring gales; 

And on her ample decks a happy crowd 

Bade the fair land good-by ; 
Clear shone the day, with not a single cloud 

In all the peaceful sky. 

Brave men, sweet women, little children bright. 

For all these she made room, 
And with her freight of beauty and delight 

She went to meet her doom. 



46 A TRYST 

Storms buffeted the iceberg, spray was swept 

Across its loftiest height; 
Guided alike by storm and calm, it kept 

Its fatal path aright. 

Then warmer waves gnawed at its crumbling base, 

As if in piteous plea; 
The ardent sun sent slow tears down its face, 

Soft flowing to the sea. 

Dawn kissed it with her tender rose tints, Eve 

Bathed it in violet, 
The wistful color o'er it seemed to grieve 

With a divine regret. 

Whether Day clad its clefts in rainbows dim 

And shadowy as a dream, 
Or Night through lonely spaces saw it swim 

White in the moonlight's gleam, 

Ever Death rode upon its solemn heights, 

Ever his watch he kept; 
Cold at its heart through changing days and nights 

Its changeless purpose slept. 

And where afar a smiling coast it passed. 

Straightway the air grew chill; 
Dwellers thereon perceived a bitter blast, 

A vague report of ill. 



A TRYST 47 

Like some imperial creature, moving slow, 

Meanwhile, with matchless grace, 
The stately ship, unconscious of her foe, 

Drew near the trysting place. 

For still the prosperous breezes followed her, 

And half the voyage was o'er; 
In many a breast glad thoughts began to stir 

Of lands that lay before. 

And human hearts with longing love were dumb, 

That soon should cease to beat, 
Thrilled with the hope of meetings soon to come, 

And lost in memories sweet. 

Was not the weltering waste of water wide 

Enough for both to sail ? 
What drew the two together o'er the tide. 

Fair ship and iceberg pale 1 

There came a night with neither moon nor star, 

' Clouds draped the sky in black; 
With fluttering canvas reefed at every spar, 
And weird fire in her track. 

The ship swept on ; a wild wind gathering fast 

Drove her at utmost speed. 
Bravely she bent before the fitful blast 

That shook her like a reed. 



48 IMPKISONED 

O holmsniiui, turn thy wheel ! Will no surmise 
Oloavo throiigli the midnight droar? 

No \varnin|j; of tho horriblo surprise 
lloacli tliino unconscious car? 

Sho ruslunl upon hor ruin. Not a Hash 

l>^(>k(^ up the "waiting dark; 
Dully thn>ugh wind and sea ono awful crash 

fcJoundoil, with uoiuy to niark. 

Scarcely hor crow liad timo to clutch despair, 

So swift tho wt>rk was done: 
Ero thoir palo lips coukl franu> a speechless prayer, 

They perished, every one I 



HVirillSONED 

Ltotitly she lifts the large, pure, luminous sholl, 

Poises it in hor strong and sha]>ely luuid. 
'Listen," she says, "it has a talc to tell, 

Spoken in language yi>u may undorstand. " 

Smiling, she holds it at my dreaming ear: 
The old, delicious murmur of the sea 

Steals like enchant nuMit thnnigh me, and 1 hear 
Voices like echoes of eternity. 



IMPRISONED 49 

She stirs it softly, Lo, another speech ! 

In one of its dim chambers, shut from sight, 
Is sealed the water that has kissed the beach 

Where the far Indian Ocean leai)s in light. 

Those laughing ripples, hidden evermore 
In utter darkness, plaintively repeat 

Their lapsing on the glowing tropic shore, 
In melancholy whispers low and sweet. 

O prisoiuul wave that may not see the sun I 
O voice that never may be comforted ! 

You cannot break the web that Fate has spun; 
Out of your world are light and gladness fled. 

The red dawn nevermore shall tremble far 
Across the leagues of radiant brine to you ; 

You shall not sing to greet the evening star, 
Nor dance exulting under heaven's clear blue. 

Inexorably woven is the weft 

That shrouds from you all joy but memory; 
Only this tender, low lament is left 

Of all the sumptuous splendor of the sea. 



50 PRESAGE 



PRESAGE 



If, some day, I should scok those eyes 
So goiitle now, — - and tind tho strange, 
Pale shadow of a coming change, 

To chill mo with a sad surprise; 

Shouldst thou recall what thou hast given, 
And turn mo slowly cold and dumb, 
And thou thyself again become 

Homoto as any star in heaven; 

Would the sky ever seem again 

Perfectly clear? Would the serene. 
Sweet face of nature steal between 

This grief and me, to dull its pain? 

Oh not for many a weary day 
Would sorrow soften to regret, 
And many a sun would rise and set 

Ere I, with cheerful heart, could say: 

"All undeserved it camo. To-day, 
God takes it back again, because 
Too beautiful a thing it was 
For such as I to keep for aye." 



MIDSUMMER MIDNIGHT 51 

And ever, through the coming years, 

My star, remote in happy skies, 

Would seem more heavenly fair through eyes 
Yet tremulous with unfallen tears. 



MIDSUMMER MIDNIGHT 

The wide, still, moonlit water miles away 

Stretches in lonely splendor. Whispers creep 

About us from the midnight wind, and play 

Among the flowers that breathe so sweet in sleep; 

A soft touch sways the milk-white, stately phlox, 

And on its slender stem the poppy rocks. 

Fair faces turn to watch the dusky sea, 

And clear eyes brood upon the path of light 

The white moon makes, the while deliciously. 
Like some vague, tender memory of delight, 

Or like some half remembered, dear regret, 

Rises the odor of the mignonette. 

Midsummer glories, moonlight, flowers asleep. 
And delicate perfume, mystic winds that blow 

Soft-breathing, full of balm, and the great deep 
In leagues of shadow swaying to and fro; 

And loving human thought to mark it all, 

And human hearts that to each other call; 



52 MIDSUMMER MIDNIGHT 

Needs the enchantment of the summer night 
Another touch to make it perfect 1 Hark ! 

What sudden shaft of sound, like piercing light, 
Strikes on the ear athwart the moonlit dark ? 

Like some keen shock of joy is heard within 

The wondrous music of the violin. 

It is as if dumb Nature found a voice, 

And spoke with power, though in an unknown 
tongue. 
What kinship has the music with the noise 

Of waves, or winds, or with the flowers, slow-swung 
Like censers to and fro upon the air. 
Or with the shadow, or the moonlight fair ? 

And yet it seems some subtile link exists. 
We know not how. And over every phase 

Of thought and feeling wandering as it lists, 
Playing upon us as the west- wind plays 

Over the wind- harp, the subduing strain 

Sweeps with resistless power of joy and pain. 

Slow ebbs the golden tide, and all is still. 

Ask the magician at whose touch awoke 
That mighty, penetrating, prisoned will. 

The matchless voice that so divinely spoke. 
Kindling to fresher life the listening soul, 
What daring thought such fire from heaven stole ? 



APRIL DAYS 53 

He cannot tell us how the charm was wrought, 
Though in his hand he holds the potent key, 

Nor read the spell that to the sweet night brought 
This crown of rapture and of mystery, 

And lifted every heart, and drew away 

All trace of worldliness that marred the day. 

But every head is bowed. We watch the sea 
With other eyes, as if some hint of bliss 

Spoke to us, through the yearning melody. 

Of glad new worlds, of brighter lives than this; 

While still the milk-white, stately phlox waves slow, 

And drowsily the poppy rocks below. 



APRIL DAYS 

Oh the sweet, sweet lapsing of the tide, 

Through the still hours of the golden afternoon I 

Oh the warm, red sunshine, far and wide, 
Falling soft as in the crowning days of June! 

Calls the gray sandpiper from the quiet shore, 

Weave the swallows light and music through the air, 

Chants the sparrow all his pleasure o'er and o'er, 
Sings and smiles the Spring, and sparkles every- 
where. 



54 HEARTBKEAK HILL 

Well I know that death and pain to all are near, 
That, save sorrow, naught is certain this world 
gives; 

Yet my heart stirs with the budding of the year, 
And rejoices still with everything that lives. 

Fold me then, O south- wind ! God is good. 

Gladly, gratefully I take thy sweet caress. 
Call, sandpiper, from thy solitude. 

Every sight and sound has power to bless. 

Oh the sweet, sweet lapsing of the tide. 

Through the still hours of the golden afternoon I 

Nor death, nor pain, nor sorrow shall abide, 
For God blesses all his children, late or soon. 



HEAETBREAK HILL 

In" Ipswich town, not far from the sea, 

Rises a hill which the people call 
Heartbreak Hill, and its history 

Is an old, old legend, known to all. 

The selfsame dreary, worn-out tale 
Told by all peoples in every clime, 

Still to be told till the ages fail, 

And there comes a pause in the march of Time. 



HEARTBREAK HILL 65 

It was a sailor who won the heart 

Of an Indian maiden, lithe and young; 

And she saw him over the sea depart, 

While sweet in her ear his promise rung; 

For he cried, as he kissed her wet eyes dry, 

"I '11 come back, sweetheart; keep your faith! " 

She said, " I will watch while the moons go by : " 
Her love was stronger than life or death. 

So this poor dusk Ariadne kept 

Her watch from the hilltop rugged and steep; 
Slowly the empty moments crept 

While she studied the changing face of the deep, 

Fastening her eyes upon every speck 
That crossed the ocean within her ken; 

Might not her lover be walking the deck, 
Surely and swiftly returning again? 

The Isles of Shoals loomed, lonely and dim, 
In the northeast distance far and gray, 

And on the horizon's uttermost rim 
The low rock heap of Boon Island lay. 

And north and south and west and east 

Stretched sea and land in the blinding light, 

Till evening fell, and her vigil ceased, 
And many a hearth-glow lit the night, 



56 HEARTBREAK HILL 

To mock those set and glittering eyes 
Fast growing wild as her hope went out. 

Hateful seemed earth, and the hollow skies, 
Like her own heart, empty of aught but doubt. 

Oh, but the weary, merciless days, 

With the sun above, with the sea afar, — 

No change in her fixed and wistful gaze 
From the morning-red to the evening star! 

Oh, the winds that blew, and the birds that sang. 
The calms that smiled, and the storms that rolled. 

The bells from the town beneath, that rang 

Through the summer's heat and the winter's cold! 

The flash of the plunging surges white. 
The soaring gull's wild, boding cry, — 

She was weary of all; there was no delight 
In heaven or earth, and she longed to die. 

What was it to her though the Dawn should paint 

With delicate beauty skies and seas ? 
But the sweet, sad sunset splendors faint 

Made her soul sick with memories: 

Drowning in sorrowful purple a sail 

In the distant east, where shadows grew. 

Till the twilight shrouded it, cold and pale, 
And the tide of her anguish rose anew. 



THE SONG-SPARROW 57 

Like a slender statue carved of stone 
She sat, with hardly motion or breath. 

She wept no tears and she made no moan, 
But her love was stronger than life or death. 

He never came back ! Yet faithful still. 
She watched from the hilltop her life away. 

And the townsfolk christened it Heartbreak Hill, 
And it bears the name to this very day. 



THE SONG-SPAEEOW 

In this sweet, tranquil afternoon of spring. 
While the low sun declines in the clear west, 

I sit and hear the blithe song- sparrow sing 
His strain of rapture not to be suppressed; 

Pondering life's problem strange, while death draws 
near, 

I listen to his dauntless song of cheer. 

His shadow flits across the quiet stone: 

Like that brief transit is my space of days; 

For, like a flower's faint perfume, youth is flown 
Already, and there rests on all life's ways 

A dimness ; closer my beloved I clasp. 

For all dear things seem slipping from my grasp. 



58 THE SONG-SPARROW 

Death touches all; the light of loving eyes 
Goes out in darkness, comfort is withdrawn; 

Lonely, and lonelier still the pathway lies, 

Going toward the fading sunset from the dawn: 

Yet hark ! while those fine notes the silence break, 

As if all trouble were some grave mistake ! 

Thou little bird, how canst thou thus rejoice, 
As if the world had known nor sin nor curse 1 

God never meant to mock us with that voice ! 
That is the key-note of the universe, 

That song of perfect trust, of perfect cheer. 

Courageous, constant, free of doubt or fear. 

My little helper, ah, my comrade sweet. 
My old companion in that far-off time 

When on life's threshold childhood's winged feet 
Danced in the sunrise ! Joy was at its prime 

When all my heart responded to thy song. 

Unconscious of earth's discords harsh and strong. 

Now, grown aweary, sad with change and loss. 
With the enigma of myself dismayed; 

Poor, save in deep desire to bear the cross 
God's hand on his defenseless creatures laid. 

With patience, — here I sit this eve of spring, 

And listen with bowed head, while thou dost sing. 



IN KITTERY CHURCHYARD 59 

And slowly all my soul with comfort fills, 

And the old hope revives and courage grows; 

Up the deserted shore a fresh tide thrills, 

And like a dream the dark mood melts and goes, 

And with thy joy again will I rejoice: 

God never meant to mock us with that voice ! 



m KITTERY CHURCHYAED 

*' Mary, wife of Charles Chauncy, died April 23, 1758, in the 24th 
3'ear of her age." 

Crushing the scarlet strawberries in the grass, 
I kneel to read the slanting stone. Alas ! 
How sharp a sorrow speaks ! A hundred years 
And more have vanished, with their smiles and tears, 
Since here was laid, upon an April day, 
Sweet Mary Chauncy in the grave away, — 
A hundred years since here her lover stood 
Beside her grave in such despairing mood. 
And yet from out the vanished past I hear 
His cry of anguish sounding deep and clear, 
And all my heart with pity melts, as though 
To-day's bright sun were looking on his woe. 
"Of such a wife, O righteous Heaven! bereft, 
What joy for me, what joy on earth is left? 
Still from my inmost soul the groans arise. 
Still flow the sorrows ceaseless from mine eyes." 



60 IN KITTERY CHURCHYARD 

Alas, poor tortured soul ! I look away 

From the dark stone, — how brilliant shines the day I 

A low wall, over which the roses shed 

Their perfumed petals, shuts the quiet dead 

Apart a little, and the tiny square 

Stands in the broad and laughing field so fair, 

And gay green vines climb o'er the rough stone wall, 

And all about the wild birds Hit and call, 

And but a stone's throw southward, the blue sea 

Kolls sparkling in and sings incessantly. 

Lovely as any dream the peaceful place. 

And scarcely changed since on her gentle face 

For the last time on that sad April day 

He gazed, and felt, for him, all beauty lay 

Buried with her forever. Dull to him 

Looked the bright world through eyes with tears so 

dim! 
"I soon shall follow the same dreary way 
That leads and opens to the coasts of day." 
His only hope! But when slow time had dealt 
Firmly with him and kindly, and he felt 
The storm and stress of strong and piercing pain 
Yielding at last, and he grew calm again, 
Doubtless he found another mate before 
Ho followed Mary to the happy shore! 
But none the less his grief appeals to me 
Who sit and listen to the singing sea 
This matchless summer day, beside the stone 



AT THE BllEAKEliS' EDGE 61 

Ho made to echo with his bitter moan, 
And in my eyes I feel the foolish tears 
For buried sorrow, dead a hundred years I 



AT THE BREAKERS' EDGE 

Through the wide sky thy north wind's thunder 
roars 

Resistless, till no cloud is left to flee, 
And down the clear, cold heaven unhindered pours 

Thine awful moonlight on the winter sea. 

The vast, black, raging spaces, torn and wild, 

With an insensate fury answer back 
To the gale's challenge; hurrying breakers, piled 

Each over each, roll through the glittering track. 

I sliudder in the terror of thy cold. 

As bull'eted by the lierce blast I stand, 

Watching that shining path of bronzed gold. 
With solemn, shadowy rocks on either hand ; 

While at their foot, ghastly and white as death. 
The cruel, foaming billows plunge and rave. 

Father! where art Thou? My feeble breath 

Cries to Thee through the storm of wind and wave. 



62 AT THE breakers' EDGE 

Tho cry of all thy childron since the first 

That walked thy planets' myriad paths among; 

Tho cry of all mankind whom doubt has cursed, 
In every clime, in every age and tongue. 

Thou art the cold, the swift fire that consumes; 

Thy vast, unerring forces never fail; 
And Thou art in the frailest flower that blooms, 

As in the breath of this tremendous gale. 

Yet, though thy laws are clear as light, and prove 
Thee changeless, ever human weakness craves 

Some deeper knowledge for our liuman love 

That looks with sad eyes o'er its wastes of graves, 

And hungers for the dear hands softly drawn. 
One after one, from out our longing grasp. 

Dost Thou reach out for them ? In the sweet dawn 
Of some now world thrill they within thy clasp ? 

Ah ! what am I, thine atom, standing here 

In presence of thy pitiless elements. 
Daring to question thy great silence drear. 

No voice may break to lighten our suspense I 

Thou only, infinite Patience, that endures 
Forever ! Blind and dumb I cling to Thee. 

Slow glides the bitter night, and silent pours 
Thine awful moonlight on the winter sea. 



j-OR thoughts" 63 



FOR THOUGHTS" 



A PANSY on his breast she laid, 

Splendid, and dark with Tyrian dyes; 
"Take it, 'tis like your tender eyes, 

Deep as the midnight heaven," she said. 

The rich rose mantling in her cheek, 
Before him like the dawn she stood. 
Pausing upon Life's height, subdued, 

Yet triumphing, both proud and meek. 

And white as winter stars, intense 
With steadfast fire, his brilliant face 
Bent toward her with an eager grace, 

Pale with a rapture half suspense. 

" You give me then a thought, O Sweet ! " 
He cried, and kissed the purple flower, 
And bowed by Love's resistless power. 
Trembling ho sank before her feet. 

She crowned his beautiful bowed head 
With one caress of her white hand; 
" Rise up, my flower of all the land, 

For all my thoughts are yours," she said. 



64 WHEREFORE 



WHEEEFORE 

Black sea, black sky ! A ponderous steamship driv- 
ing 

Between them, laboring westward on her way, 
And in her path a trap of Death's contriving 

Waiting remorseless for its easy prey. 

Hundreds of souls within her frame lie dreaming, 
Hoping and fearing, longing for the light: 

With human life and thought and feeling teeming, 
She struggles onward through the starless night. 

Upon her furnace fires fresh fuel flinging, 
The swarthy firemen grumble at the dust 

Mixed with the coal — when suddenly upspringing. 
Swift through the smoke-stack like a signal thrust, 

Flares a red flame, a dread illumination ! 

A cry, — a tumult ! Slowly to her helm 
The vessel yields, 'mid shouts of acclamation, 

And joy and terror all her crew o'erwhelm; 

For looming from the blackness drear before them 
Discovered is the iceberg — hardly seen. 

Its ghastly precipices hanging o'er them. 

Its reddened peaks, with dreadful chasms between. 



WHEREFORE 65 

Ere darkness swallows it again ! and veering 
Out of its track the brave ship onward steers, 

Just grazing ruin. Trembling still, and fearing, 
Her grateful people melt in prayers and tears. 

Is it a mockery, their profound thanksgiving? 

Another ship goes shuddering to her doom 
Unwarned, that very night, with hopes as living 

With freight as precious, lost amid the gloom. 

With not a ray to show the apparition 

Waiting to slay her, none to cry " Beware ! " 

Eushing straight onward headlong to perdition. 
And for her crew no time vouchsafed for prayer. 

Could they have stormed Heaven's gate with anguished 
praying. 

It would not have availed a feather's weight 
Against their doom. Yet were they disobeying 

No law of God, to beckon such a fate. 

And do not tell me the Almighty Master 
Would work a miracle to save the one. 

And yield the other up to dire disaster, 
By merely human justice thus outdone! 

Vainly we weep and wrestle with our sorrow — 
We cannot see his roads, they lie so broad: 



66 GUENDOLEN 

But his eternal day knows no to-morrow, 

And life and death are all the same with God. 



GUENDOLEN 

She is so fair, I thought, so dear and fair! 
Maidenly beautiful from head to feet. 
With pensive profile delicate and sweet, 

And Titian's color in her sunny hair. 

So fair, I thought, rejoicing even to note 
The little flexible, transparent wrist. 
The purple of the gold- clasped amethyst 

That glittered at her white and slender throat; 

The tiny ear, curled like a rosy shell; 

The gentle splendor of the wide brown eyes. 
Deep, lustrous, tender, clear as morning skies; 

The full, sad lips, — the voice that like a bell 

Rang thrilling with a music sweet and wild, 
High, airy-pure as fluting of the fays, 
Or bird-notes in the early summer days, 

And joyous as the laughter of a child. 

Dearest, has Heaven aught to give thee more ? 
I thought, the while I watched her changing face, 



THE WATCH OF BOON ISLAND 67 

Heard her fine tones, and marked her gestures' 
grace, — 
Yea, one more gift is left, all gifts before. 

We go our separate ways on earth, and pain, 
God's shaping chisel, waits us as the rest, 
With nobler charm thy beauty to invest, 

And make thee lovelier ere we meet ag^hi. 



THE WATCH OF BOON ISLAND 

They crossed the lonely and lamenting sea; 

Its moaning seemed but singing. "Wilt thou 
dare, " 
He asked her, " brave the loneliness with me ? " 

"What loneliness,'^ she said, "if thou art there?" 

Afar and cold on the horizon's rim 

Loomed the tall lighthouse, like a ghostly sign; 
They sighed not as the shore behind grew dim, 

A rose of joy they bore across the brine. 

They gained the barren rock, and made their home 
Among the wild waves and the sea-birds wild; 

The wintry winds blew fierce across the foam, 
But in each other's eyes they looked and smiled. 



68 THE WATCH OF BOON ISLAND 

Aloft tlio liglitliouso sGiit its warnings wide, 
Fed by their faithful hands, and ships in sight 

Witli joy behold it, and on land men cried, 

"Look, clear and steady burns Boon Island li^ditf 

And, while they trimmed the lamp with busy hands, 
"Shine far and through the dark, sweet light 1" 
they cried; 

"Bring safely back the sailors from all lands 

To waiting love, — wife, mother, sister, bride ! " 

No tempest shook their calm, though many a storm 
Tore the vexed ocean into furious spray ; 

No chill could find them in their Eden warm. 
And gently Time lapsed onward day by day. 

Said I no chill could find them ? There is one 
Whose awful footfalls everywhere are known, 

With echoing sobs, who chills the summer sun, 
And turns the happy heart of youth to stone; 

Inexorable Death, a silent guest 

At every hearth, ])ef()re wliose footsteps flee 
All joys, wlio rules th(5 earth, and, witliout rest, 

Koams the vast shuddering spaces of the sea. 

Death found them ; turned his face and passed her by, 
But laid a linger on her lover's lips, 



THE WATCH OF BOON ISLAND 69 

And ihoro was silence. Then tho storm ran high, 
And tossed and trouhled sore the distant ships. 

Nay, who shall spoak tho terrors of tho night, 
Tho spoechless sorrow, tho siipromo despair? 

Still like a gliost she trimmed tho waning light, 
Dragging her slow weight up tho winding stair. 

With more than oil the saving lamp she fed, 

While lashed to madness tho wild sea she hoard. 

Sho kept her awful vigil with tho dead. 
And God's sweet pity still sho ministered. 

sailors, hailing loud the cheerful beam, 

Piercing so far tho tumult of tho dark, 
A radiant star of hope, you could not dream 

What misery there sat cherishing that spark ! 

Three times tho night, too terrible to bear, 
Descended, shrouded in the storm. At last 

The sun rose clear and still on hor despair, 
And all her striving to the winds she cast, 

And bowed her head and let tlie light die out, 
For the wide soa lay calm as her dead love. 

When evening fell, from the far land, in doubt. 
Vainly to find that faithful star men strove. 



70 BEETHOVEN 

Sailors and landsmen look, and women's eyes, 
For pity ready, search in vain the night, 

And wondering neighbor unto neighbor cries, 

" Now what, think you, can ail Boon Island light ? " 

Out from the coast toward her high tower they sailed ; 

They found her watching, silent, by her dead, 
A shadowy woman, who nor wept, nor wailed. 

But answered what they spake, till all was said. 

They bore the dead and living both away. 

With anguish time seemed powerless to destroy 
She turned, and backward gazed across the bay, — 

Lost in the sad sea lay her rose of joy. 



BEETHOVEN 



SOVEREIGN Master! stern and splendid power. 

That calmly dost both Time and Death defy; 
Lofty and lone as mountain peaks that tower. 

Leading our thoughts up to the eternal sky: 
Keeper of some divine, mysterious key, 

Kaising us far above all human care. 
Unlocking awful gates of harmony 

To let heaven's light in on the world's despair; 
Smiter of solemn chords that still command 



BEETHOVEN 71 

Echoes in souls that suffer and aspire, 
In the great moment while we hold thy hand, 

Baptized with pain and rapture, tears and fire, 
God lifts our saddened foreheads from the dust, 
The everlasting God, in whom we trust ! 

II 

O stateliest ! who shall speak thy praise, who find 

A fitting word to utter before thee ? 
Thou lonely splendor, thou consummate mind. 

Who marshalest thy hosts in majesty; 
Thy shadowy armies of resistless thought. 

Thy subtile forces drawn from Nature's heart, 
Thy solemn breathing, mighty music, wrought 

Of life and death — a miracle thou art ! 
The restless tides of human life that swing 

In stormy currents, thou dost touch and sway; 
Deep tones within us answer, shuddering, 

At thy resounding voice — we cast away 
All our unworthiness, made strong by thee, 
Thou great uplif ter of humanity ! 

Ill 

And was it thus the master looked, think you ? 

Is this the painter's fancy? Who can tell! 
These strong and noble outlines should be true: 

On the broad brow such majesty should dwell. 



72 MOZART 

Yea, and these deep, indomitable eyes 

Are surely his. Lo, the imperial will 
In every feature ! Mighty purpose lies 

About the shut mouth, resolute and still. 
Observe the head's pathetic attitude, 

Bent forward, listening, — he that might not hear ! 
Ah, could the world's adoring gratitude. 

So late to come, have made his life less drear! 
Hearest thou, now, great soul beyond our ken. 
Men's reverent voices answering thee, "Amen"? 



MOZAET 

Most beautiful among the helpers thou! 

All heaven's fresh air and sunshine at thy voice 
Flood with refreshment many a weary brow, 

And sad souls thrill with courage and rejoice 
To hear God's gospel of pure gladness sound 

So sure and clear in this bewildered world, 
Till the sick vapors that our sense confound 

By cheerful winds are into nothing whirled. 
O matchless melody ! O perfect art ! 

lovely, lofty voice, unfaltering ! 
strong and radiant and divine Mozart, 

Among earth's benefactors crowned a king! 
Loved shalt thou be while time may yet endure, 
Spirit of health, sweet, sound, and wise, and pure. 



SCHUBERT 73 



SCHUBERT 



At the open window I lean; 
Flowers in the garden without 
Faint in the heat and the drought; 

What does the music mean ? 

For here, from the cold keys within, 
Is a tempest of melody drawn; 
Doubts, passionate questions, the dawn 

Of high hope, and a triumph to win; 

While out in the garden, blood-red 
The poppy droops, faint in the heat 
Of the noon, and the sea-wind so sweet 

Caresses its delicate head. 

And still the strong music goes on 

With its storming of beautiful heights. 
With its sorrow that heaven requites, 

And the victory fought for is won ! 

High with thy gift didst thou reach, 
Schubert, whose genius superb 
Nothing could check or could curb: 

Thou liftest the heart with thy speech! 



74 CHOPIN 



CHOPm 



Calm is the close of the day, 
All things are quiet and blest; 
Low in the darkening west 

The young moon sinks slowly away. 

Without, in the twilight, I dream: 
Within it is cheerful and bright 
With faces that bloom in the light. 

And the cold keys that silently gleam. 

Then a magical touch draws near. 
And a voice like a call of delight 
Cleaves the calm of the beautiful night. 

And I turn from my musing to hear. 

Lo! the movement too wondrous to name! 
Agitation and rapture, the press 
As of myriad waves that caress. 

And break into vanishing flame. 

Ah! but the exquisite strain. 

Sinking to pathos so sweet! 

Is life then a lie and a cheat? 
Hark to the hopeless refrain! 



THE PIMPEKNEL 75 

Comes a shock like the voice of a soul 
Lost to good, to all beauty and joy, 
Led alone by the powers that destroy, 

And fighting with fiends for control. 

Drops a chord like the grave's first clod. 
Then again toss the waves of caprice. 
Wild, delicate, sweet, with no peace, 

No health, and no yielding to God. 

O Siren, that charmest the air 

With this potent and passionate spell. 
Sad as songs of the angels that fell. 

Thou leadest alone to despair! 

What troubles the night ? It grows chill — 

Let the weird, wild music be; 

Fronts us the infinite sea 
And Nature is holy and still. 



THE PIMPERNEL 

She walks beside the silent shore. 
The tide is high, the breeze is still; 

No ripple breaks the ocean floor. 
The sunshine sleeps upon the hill. 



76 THE PIMPERNEL 

The turf is warm beneath her feet, 

Bordering the beach of stone and shell, 

And thick about her path the sweet 
Red blossoms of the pimpernel. 

" Oh, sleep not yet, my flower ! " she cries, 
"Nor prophesy of storm to come; 
Tell me that under steadfast skies 

Fair winds shall bring my lover home.'' 

She stoops to gather flower and shell. 
She sits, and, smiling, studies each; 

She hears the full tide rise and swell. 
And whisper softly on the beach. 

Waking, she dreams a golden dream, 
Eemembering with what still delight. 

To watch the sunset's fading gleam. 

Here by the waves they stood last night. 

She leans on that encircling arm, 
Divinely strong with power to draw 

Her nature, as the moon doth charm 
The swaying sea with heavenly law. 

All lost in bliss the moments glide; 

She feels his whisper, his caress; 
The murmur of the mustering tide 

Brings her no presage of distress. 



THE PIMPERNEL 77 

What breaks her dream? She lifts her eyes 

Reluctant to destroy the spell; 
The color from her bright cheek dies, — 

Close folded is the pimpernel. 

With rapid glance she scans the sky; 

Eises a sudden wind, and grows. 
And charged with storm the cloud-heaps lie. 

Well may the scarlet blossoms close ! 

A touch, and bliss is turned to bale ! 

Life only keeps the sense of pain; 
The world holds naught save one white sail 

Flying before the wind and rain. 

Broken upon the wheel of fear 

She wears the storm- vexed hour away; 

And now in gold and fire draws near 
The sunset of her troubled day. 

But to her sky is yet denied 

The sun that lights the world for her; 
She sweeps the rose-flushed ocean wide 

With eager eyes the quick tears blur; 

And lonely, lonely all the space 

Stretches, with never sign of sail, 
And sadder grows her wistful face. 

And all the sunset splendors fail. 



78 BY THE DEAD 

And cold and palo, in still despair, 

With heavier grief than tongue can tell, 

She sinks, - — upon her lips a prayer, 
Her cheek against the pimpernel. 

Bright blossoms wet with showery tears 
On her shut eyes their droplets shed. 

Only tlie Wakened waves she hears. 
That, singing, drown his rapid tread. 

" Sweet, I am here ! " Joy's gates swing wide, 
And heaven is theirs, and all is well, 
And left beside the eblnng tide. 
Forgotten, is the pimpernel. 



BY THE DEAD 

Poverty ! till now I never knew 

The meaning of the word ! What lack is here I 
pale mask of a soul great, good, and true ! 

O mocking semblance stretched upon a bier I 

Each atom of this devastated face 

Was so instinct with power, with warmth and 
light; 
What desert is so desolate ! No grace 

Is left, no gleam, no change, no day, no night. 



BY THE DEAD 79 

Where is the key tliat locked these gates of speech, 
Oiico beautiful, where thought stood sentinel, 

Where sweetness sat, where wisdom passed, to teach 
Our weakness strongtli, our homage to compel? 

Despoiled at last, and waste and barren lies 

This once so rich domain. Where lives and moves, 

In what new world, tlic splendor of these eyes 
That dauntless lightened like imperial Jove's? 

Annihilated, do you answer me ? 

Blown out and vanisliod like a candle flame ? 
Is nothing left but this pale efligy. 

This silence drear, this dread without a name ? 

Has it been all in vain, our love and pride, 

This yearning love that still purswis our friend 

Into the awful dark, unsatisfied. 

Bereft, and wrung with pain ? Is this the end ? 

Would God so mock us ? To our human sense 
No answer reaches through the dbubtful air; 

Yet with a living hope, profound, intense. 
Our tortured souls rebel against despair; 

As bowing to the bitter fate we go 

Drooping and dumb as if beneath a curse; 

But does not pitying Heaven answer " No ! " 
With all the voices of the universe 1 



80 FOOTPEINTS IN THE SAND 

FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND 

Lazily, through the warm gray afternoon, 

We sailed toward the land; 
Over the long sweep of the billows, soon, 

We saw on either hand 
Peninsula and cape and silver beach 

Unfold before our eyes, 
Lighthouse and roof and spire and wooded reach 

Grew clear beyond surmise. 
Behind us lay the islands that we loved. 

Touched by a wandering gleam. 
Melting in distance, where the white sails moved 

Softly as in a dream. 
Drifting past buoy and scarlet beacon slow, 

We gained the coast at last. 
And up the harbor, where no wind did blow, 

We drew, and anchor cast. 
The lovely land ! Green, the broad fields came down 

Almost into the sea; 
Nestled the quiet homesteads warm and brown, 

Embraced by many a tree; 
The gray above was streaked with smiling blue, 

The snowy gulls sailed o'er; 
The shining goldenrod waved, where it grew, 

A welcome to the shore. 
Peaceful the whole, and sweet. Beyond the sand 

The dwelling-place I sought 



FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND 81 

Lay in the sunshine. All the scene I scanned, 

Full of one wistful thought: 
Saw any eyes our vessel near the shore 

From vine-draped windows quaint? 
Waited my bright, shy darling at the door, 

Fairer than words could paint? 
I did not see her gleaming golden head, 

Nor hear her clear voice call; 
As up the beach I went with rapid tread, 

Lonely and still was all. 
But on the smooth sand printed, far and near, 

I saw her footsteps small; 
Here had she loitered, here she hastened, here 

She climbed the low stone wall. 
Such pathos in those little footprints spoke, 

I paused and lingered long; 
Listening as far away the billows broke 

With the old solemn song. 
"The infinite hoary spray of the salt sea," 

In yet another tide. 
Should wash away these traces utterly; 

And in my heart I cried, — 
"O thou Creator, when thy waves of Time, 

The infinite hoary spray 
That sweeps life from the earth at dawn and prime. 

Have swept her soul away. 
How shall I know it is not even as these 

Light footprints in the sand, 



} FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND 

That vanish into naught? For no man sees 

Clearly what Thon hast planned." 
And sadly musing, up the slope I pressed, 

And sought her where she played. 
By breeze and sunshine flattered and caressed, 

A merry little maid. 
And while I clasped her close and held her fast, 

And looked into her face, 
Half shy, half smiling, wholly glad at last 

To rest in my embrace. 
From the clear heaven of her innocent eyes 

Leaped Love to answer me; 
Divinely through the mortal shape that dies 

Shone immortality ! 
What the winds hinted, what the awful sky 

Held in its keeping, — all 
The vast sea's prophesying suddenly 

Grew clear as clarion call. 
The secret nature strives to speak, yet hides, 

Flashed from those human eyes 
To slay my doubt: I felt that all the tides 

Of death and change might rise 
And devastate the world, yet I could see 

This steady shining spark 
Should live eternally, could never be 

Lost in the unfathomed dark ! 
And when beneath a threatening sunset sky 

We trimmed our sails and turned 



A BROKEN LILY i 

Seaward again, with many a sweet good-by, 

A quiet gladness burned 
Within me, as I watched her tiny form 

Go dancing up and down, 
Light as a sandpiper before the storm, 

Upon the beach-edge brown, 
Waving her little kerchief to and fro 

Till we were out of sight, 
Sped by a wild wind that began to blow 

Out of the troubled night; 
And while we tossed upon an angry sea, 

And round the lightning ran. 
And muttering thunder rolled incessantly 

As the black storm began, 
I knew the fair and peaceful landscape lay 

Safe hidden in the gloom. 
Waiting the glad returning of the day 

To smile again and bloom; 
And sure as that to-morrow's sun would rise, 

And day again would be. 
Shone the sweet promise of those childish eyes 

Wherein God answered me. 

A BEOKEN LILY 

O Lily, dropped upon the gray sea-sand. 

What time my fair love through the morning land 

Led the rejoicing children, singing all 



84 MAY MORNING 

In happy chorus, to their festival, 

Under green trees the flowery fields among; 

Now, when the noon sun blazes o'er the sea, 
And echo tolls not of the song tlioy sung. 

And all thy silver splendor silently 
Thou yieldest to the salt and bitter tide, 

I find thee, and, remembering on whose breast 
Thy day began in thy fresh beauty's pride. 

Though of thy bloom and fragrance dispossessed, 
Thou art to me than all June's flowers more sweet, 
Fairer than Aphrodite's foam-kissed feet I 



MAY MORNING 

Warm, wild, rainy wind, blowing fitfully. 

Stirring dreamy breakers on the slumberous May sea. 

What shall fail to answer thee? What thing shall 

withstand 
The spell of thine enchantment, flowing over sea and 

land? 

All along the swamp-edge in the rain I go; 
All about my head thou the loosened locks dost blow; 
Like the German goose-girl in the fairy tale, 
I watch across the shining pool my flock of ducks that 
sail. 



MAY MORNING 85 

Redly gloam tho rose- haws, dripping with the wot, 
Fruit of sober autumn, glowing crimson yet; 
Slender swords of iris leaves cut tho water clear. 
And light green creeps the tender grass, thick spread- 
ing far and near. 

Every last year's stalk is set with brown or golden 

studs ; 
All tho boughs of bayberry are thick with scented 

buds ; 
Islanded in turfy velvet, where tho ferns uncurl, 
Lo! tho largo white duck's egg glimmers like a pearll 

Softly sing tho billows, rushing, whispering low ; 
Freshly, oh! deliciously, tho warm, wild wind doth 

blow! 
Plaintive bloat of now- washed lambs comes faint from 

far away; 
And clearly cry tho little birds, alert and blithe and 

O happy, happy morning ! dear, familiar place ! 
O warm, swoet tears of Heaven, fast falling on my 

face! 
O well-remembered, rainy wind, blow all my caro 

away. 
That I may bo a child again this blissful morn of May. 



86 ALL 'S WELL 



ALL 'S WELL 

What dost thou here, young wife, by the water-side, 

Gathering crimson dulse? 
Know'st thou not that the cloud in the west glooms 
wide. 

And the wind has a hurrying pulse ? 

Peaceful the eastern waters before thee spread, 

And the cliffs rise high behind, 
While thou gatherest sea- weeds, green and brown and 
red. 

To the coming trouble blind. 

She lifts her eyes to the top of the granite crags, 

And the color ebbs from her cheek. 
Swift vapors skurry the black squall's tattered flags. 

And she hears the gray gull shriek. 

And like a blow is the thought of the little boat 

By this on its homeward way, 
A tiny skiff, like a cockle-shell afloat 

In the tempest- threatened bay ; 

With husband and brother who sailed away to the 
town 
When fair shone the morning sun. 



ALL 'S WELL 87 

To tarry but till the tide in the stream turned down, 
Then seaward again to run. 

Homeward she flies; the land-breeze strikes her cold; 

A terror is in the sky; 
Her little babe with his tumbled hair of gold 

In her mother's arms doth lie. 

She catches him up with a breathless, questioning cry : 

"O mother, speak! Are they near?" 
"Dear, almost home. At the western window high 

Thy father watches in fear." 

She climbs the stair: "0 father, must they be lost? " 

He answers never a word; 
Through the glass he watches the line the squall has 
crossed 

As if no sound he heard. 

And the Day of Doom seems come in the angry sky, 

And a low roar fills the air; 
In an awful stillness the dead-black waters lie. 

And the rocks gleam ghastly and bare. 

Is it a snow-white gull's wing fluttering there. 

In the midst of that hush of dread ? 
Ah, no, 't is the narrow strip of canvas they dare 

In the face of the storm to spread. 



88 ALL 'S WELL 

A moment more and all the furies are loose, 

The coast lino is blotted out, 
The skiff is gone, the rain-cloud pours its sluice, 

And she hears her father shout, 

"Down with your sail! as if through the tumult 
wild," 

And the distance, his voice might reach; 
And, stunned, she clasps still closer her rosy child. 

Bereft of the power of speech. 

But her heart cries low, as writhing it lies on the 
rack, 
"Sweet, art thou fatherless?" 
And swift to her mother she carries the little one 
back. 
Where she waits in her sore distress. 

Then into tlio heart of the storm she rushes forth; 

Like leaden bullets the rain 
Beats hard in her face, and tlic hurricane from the 
north 

Would drive her back again. 

It splits the shingles off the roof like a wedge, 

It lashes her clothes and her hair, 
But slowly she fights her way to the western ledge, 

With the strength of her despair. 



ALI. S WKLL 89 

Through Uio Hying s})niy, through the raiu-cloud's 
sliJiUcrod strojun, 

What sh;ii)cs in the diytuncc groiw, 
Like liguros that haunt the shore of a dreadful dream ? 

She is wikl with a doaporate hope. 

Have pity, merciful Heaven! Can it he? 

Is it no vision that mocks ? 
From hillow to l)ill<)w tlie headlong plunging sea 

Has tossed them liigli on the rocks; 

And the hollow skill' like a child's toy lies on the 
ledge 
This side of the roaring foam, 
And up from the valley of death, from the grave's 
drear edge, 
Like ghosts of men they come ! 

Oh sweetly, sweetly shines the sinking sun. 

And the storm is swept away; 
Piled high in the east jire the cloud-heaps purple and 
dun, 

And peacefully dies i\w day. 

But a sweeter peace falls soft on the grateful souls 

In the lonely \sh) that dwell, 
And the whisjier and rush of every wave that rolls 

Seem murmuring, "All is well." 



90 THE SECRET 



THE SECRET 

"Oh what saw you, gathering flowers so early this 

May morn ? " 
"I saw a shining blackbird loud whistling on a thorn; 
I saw the mottled plover from the swamp-edge fly 

away; 
I heard the blithe song-sparrows who welcomed the 

bright day; 
I heard the curlew calling, oh, sweet, so sweet and far ! 
I saw the white gull twinkling in the blue sky like a 

star." 

"And is the blackbird whistling yet, and does the 

curlew call, 
And should I find your rapture if I saw and heard it 

all? 
Life seems to me so hard to bear, perplexed with 

change and loss. 
Heavy with pain, and weary still with care's perpetual 

cross. 
Why should the white gull's twinkling wings, half 

lost amid the blue. 
Bring any joy? Yet care and pain weigh just as 

much on you, 
And you come back and look at me with such joy- 
beaming eyes 



THE SECRET 91 

An angel njiglit have been your guide through fields 

of Paradise ! 
What is the secret Nature keeps to whisper in your ear 
That sends the swift blood pulsing warm with such 

immortal cheer, 
And makes your eyes shine like the morn, and rings 

sweet in your voice. 
Like some clear, distant trumpet sound that bids the 

world rejoice? " 
"Her secret? Nay, she speaks to me no word you 

might not hear. 
Her voice is ever ready and her meaning ever clear: 
But I love her with such passion that her lightest ges- 
ture seems 
Divinely beautiful — she fills my life with golden 

dreams. 
I tremble in her presence, to her every touch and tone; 
I answer to her whisper — love has to worship grown. 
She turns her solemn face to me, and lays within my 

hand 
The key that puts her endless wealth for aye at my 

command ; 
And so, because I worship her, her benedictions rest 
Upon me, and she folds me safe and warm upon her 

breast, 
And in her sweet and awful eyes I gaze till I forget 
The troubles that perplex our days, the tumult and 

the fret. 



92 SEASIDE GOLDENROD 

Oh, would you learn the word of power that lifts, all 

care above, 
The sad soul up to Nature's heart? I answer, It is 

Love!" 



SEASIDE GOLDENROD 

Graceful, tossing plume of glowing gold, 
Waving lonely on the rocky ledge; 

Leaning seaward, lovely to behold. 

Clinging to the high cliff's ragged edge; 

Burning in the pure September sky. 
Spike of gold against the stainless blue, 

Do you watch the vessels drifting by ? 
Does the quiet day seem long to you? 

Up to you I climb, perfect shape ! 

Poised so lightly 'twixt the sky and sea; 
Looking out o'er headland, crag, and cape. 

O'er the ocean's vague immensity. 

Up to you my human thought I bring, 

Sit me down your peaceful watch to share. 

Do you hear the waves below us sing ? 
Feel you the soft fanning of the air ? 



MARCH 98 

How much of life's rapture is your right? 

In earth's joy what may your portion be? 
Kocked by breezes, touched by tender light, 

Fed by dews and sung to by the sea ! 

Something of delight and of content 

Must be yours, however vaguely known; 

And your grace is mutely eloquent. 

And your beauty makes the rock a throne. 

Matters not to you, O golden flower! 

That such eyes of worship watch you sway ; 
But you make more sweet the dreamful hour 

And you crown for me the tranquil day. 



MAKCH 

The keen north wind pipes loud; 
Swift scuds the flying cloud; 
Light lies the new fallen snow; 
The ice- clad eaves drip slow, 
For glad Spring has begun, 
And to the ardent sun 
The earth, long time so bleak, 
Turns a frost-bitten cheek. 
Through the clear sky of March, 
Blue to the topmost arch, 



94 MARCH 

Swept by the New Year's galos, 
The crow, harsh-clamoring, sails. 
Hy the swift river's Hood 
The willow's golden blood 
Mounts to the highest spray, 
More vivid day by day; 
And fast the maples now 
Crimson through every bough, 
And from the alder's crown 
Swing the long catkins brown. 
Gone is the winter's pain; 
Thougli sorrow still rcnuain, 
Though eyes with tears be wet, 
The voice of our regret 
We husli, to hoar the sweet 
Far fall of sunnnor's feet. 
The Heavenly Father wise 
Looks in the saddened eyes 
Of our un worthiness, 
Yet doth He cheer and bless. 
Doubt and l)esi)air are dead; 
Hop(3 dares to raise her head, 
And whispers of delight 
Fill the earth day and night. 
The snowdrops by the door 
Lift upward, sweet and pure, 
Their delicate bells; and soon. 
In the calm blaze of noon. 



TIIK WHITK liOVKU 95 

J\y lowly wiiulow-sills 
Will laugh iluwlairodils! 



SON(J 

Tiiic clovor bloHHoniH kiss lu^r fci^t, 

SI 10 is so swoot, 
Wliilo 1, who may not kiss h(w haiu], 
Bless till lh(^ wild llowtMr. in l.h<^ laud. 

ISoft suiishiiu^ falls across hci* broast, 

Sh(^ is so bloat. 
I 'm jealous of its aruis of gold, 
Oh l.hal th('M(^ aruiM Ikm* forui uiight fold! 

Gently Iho broo/c^s kiss bur hair, 

Sho is so fair. 
Let llovvors aud sun and bn-ozo go by, 
O dearest! Love nie or J ilio. 

Osc^Au iiAuniroN 



TUK WIITTIC MOVVAl 

TnKY callod Mi<^ liMIn schooiKU" IIk^ Wliib^ I\.(>v<u*, 
When they lightly launcluMl \um- ou l,ho briiuuiiug 
tide; 

Stanch and triiu she was to sail ilu^ broad scmis ov(w, 
Aud with rhccrs they .s|»n'ad lu^r suowy cauvas widt^ ; 



96 THE WHITE ROVER 

And a thing of beauty, forth she fared to wrestle 
With the wild, uncertain ocean, far and near, 

And no evil thing befell the graceful vessel, 

And she sailed in storm and sunshine many a year. 

But at last a rumor grew that she was haunted; 

That up her slender masts her sails had flown 
Unhelped by human hands, as if enchanted, 

As she rocked upon her moorings all alone. 

Howe'er that be, one day in winter weather, 
When the bitter north was raging at its worst. 

And wind and cold vexed the roused sea together. 
Till Dante's frozen hell seemed less accurst, 

Two fishermen, to draw their trawls essaying. 
Seized by the hurricane that ploughed the bay. 

Were swept across the waste; and hardly weighing 
Death's chance, the Rover reefed and bore away 

To save them, — reached them, shuddering where they 
waited 

Their quick destruction, tossing white and dumb, 
And caught them from perdition; then, belated. 

Strove to return the rough way she had come. 

But there was no returning! Fierce as lightning 
The eager cold grew keener, more intense. 



THE WHITE ROVER 97 

Across her homeward track the billows, whitening, 
In crested mountains rolling, drove her thence; 

Till her brave crew, benumbed, gave up the battle, 
Clad in a mail of ice that weighed like lead; 

They heard the crusted blocks and rigging rattle, 
They saw the sails like sheets of iron spread. 

And powerless before the gale they drifted, 

Till swiftly dropped the black and hopeless night. 

The wild tornado never lulled nor shifted, 

But drove them toward the coast upon their right, 

And flung the frozen schooner, all sail standing, 

Stiff as an iceberg on the icy shore ; 
And half alive, her torpid people, landing, 

Crept to the lighthouse, and were safe once more. 

Then what befell the vessel, standing solemn 

Through that tremendous night of cold and storm, 

Upon the frost-locked land, a frigid column. 
Beneath the stars, a silent, glittering form? 

None ever saw her more ! The tide upbore her, 
Released her fastened keel, and ere the day. 

Without a guide, and all the world before her, 
The sad, forsaken Bover sailed away. 



98 THE WHITE ROVER 

But sometimes, when in summer twilight blending 
Sunset and moonrise mingle their rich light, 

Or when on noonday mists the sun is spending 
His glory, till they glimmer thin and white, 

Upon the dim horizon molting, gleaming. 

Slender, ethereal, like a lovely ghost 
Soft looming, in the hazy distance dreaming, 

Or gliding like a film along the coast, 

I seem to see her yet: and skippers hoary, 

Sailors and fishermen, will still relate 
Among their sea- worn mates the simple story 

Of how the wandering Rover met her fate; 

And shake their heads: "Perhaps the tempest wrecked 
her. 

But snug and trim and tidy, fore and aft, 
I 've seen the vessel since, or else her spectre, 

Sailing as never yet sailed earthly craft. 

Straight in the wind's teeth; and with steady mo- 
tion 

Cleaving a calm as if it blew a gale ! " 
And they are sure her wraith still haunts the ocean. 

Mocking the sight with semblance of a sail. 



CONTRAST 99 



CONTRAST 



The day is bitter. Through the hollow sky 
Rolls the clear sun, inexorably bright, 

Glares on the shrinking earth, a lidless eye, 

Shedding no warmth, but Hoods of blinding liglit. 

The luirricane roars loud. The facile sea 

With passionate resentment writhes and raves 

Beneatli its maddening whip, and furiously 
Responds with all the thunder of its waves. 

The iron rock, ice-locked, snow-slu^atlied, lies still, 

The centre of this devastated world, 
Beaten and lashed by wind and sea at will, 

Buried in spray by the fierce breakers hurled. 

Cold, raging desolation ! Out of it, 

Swift-footed, eager, noiseless as the light, 

Glides my adventurous thought, and lo, I sit 
With Mennion and the desert in my sight. 

Silence and breathless heat I A torrid land, 
Unbroken to the vast horizon's verge. 

Save once, where from the waste of level sand 
All motionless the clustered palms emerge. 



100 A FADED GLOVE 

Hot the wide earth and hot the blazing sky, 
And still as death, unchanged since time began. 

Far in the shimmering distance silently 
Creeps like a snake the lessening caravan. 

And on the great lips of the statue old 
Broods silence, and no zephyr stirs the palm. 

Nature forgets her tempests and her cold, 

And breathes in peace. "There is no joy but 
calm." 



A FADED GLOVE 

My little granddaughter, who fain would know 
Why, folded close in scented satin fine, 

I keep a relic faded long ago, 

This pearl-gray, dainty, withered glove of mine, 

Listen: I '11 tell you. It is fifty years 
Since the fair day I laid my treasure here. 

But yesterday to me the time appears; 
Ages ago to you, I know, my dear. 

Upon this palm, now withered as my cheek, 
Love laid his first kiss, doubting and afraid: 

Oh, swift and strong across me while I speak 
Comes memory of Love's might, my little maid! 



A FADED GLOVE lOl 

I yet was so unconscious! 'Twas a night — 
Some festal night; my sisters were above, 

Not ready quite; but I, cloaked all in white, 
Waited below, and, fastening my glove. 

Looked up with smiling speech to him who stood 

Observing me, so still and so intent, 
I wondered somewhat at his quiet mood, 

Till it flashed on mo what the silence meant. 

What sudden fire of dawn my sky o'orspread! 

What low melodious thunder broke my calm ! 
Could I be dreaming that this glorious head 

Was bending low above my girlish palm ? 

His majesty of mien proclaimed him king; 

His lowly gesture said, " I am your slave ; " 
Beneath my feet the firm earth seemed to swing. 

Unstable as storm-driven wind and wave. 

Ah, beautiful and terrible and sweet 

The matchless moment! Was it life or death. 

Or day or night ? For my heart ceased to beat, 
And heaven and earth changed in a single breath. 

And, like a harp some hand of power doth smite 

To sudden harmony, my soul awoke. 
And, answering, rose to match his spirit's height, 

While not a word the mystic silence broke. 



102 A FADED GLOVE 

'T was but an instant. Down the echoing stair 
Swept voices, laughter, wafts of melody, — 

My sisters three, in draperies light as air; 

But like a dream the whole world seemed to me, 

As, steadying my whirling thoughts, I strove 
To grasp a truth so wondrous, «^o divine. 

I shut this hand, this little tinted glove. 
To keep its secret mine, and only mine. 

And like an empty show the brilliant hours 

Passed by, with beauty, music, pleasure thronged, 

Phantasmagoria of light and flowers; 
But only one delight to me belonged, 

One thought, one wish, one hope, one joy, one fear, 
One dizzy rapture, one star in the sky, — 

The solemn sky that bent to bring God near : 
I would have been content that night to die. 

Only a touch upon this little glove. 

And, lo, the lofty marvel which it wrought! 

You wonder; for as yet you know not love, 
Oh, sweet my child, my lily yet unsought I 

The glove is faded, but immortal joy 

Lives in the kiss; its memory cannot fade; 

And when Death's clasp this pale hand shall destroy. 
The sacred glove shall in my grave be laid. 



PORTENT 108 



PORTENT 

When the darkness drew away at the dawning of the 
day, 

I heard the medricks screammg loud and shrill across 
the bay; 

And I wondered to behold all the sky in ruddy gold, 

Flashing into fire and flame where the clouds like bil- 
lows rolled. 

Red the sea ran east and west, burning broke each 

tumbling crest. 
Where the waves, like shattered rubies, leaped and 

fell and could not rest; 
Every rock was carmine-flushed, every sail like roses 

blushed. 
Flying swift before the wind from the south that 

roared and rushed. 

"Is it judgment day?" I said, gazing out o'er billows 
red. 

Gazing up at crimson vapors, crowding, drifting over- 
head. 

Listening to the great uproar of the waters on the 
shore. 

To the wild sad-crying sea-birds, buffeted and beaten 
sore. 



104 PORTENT 

" Is the end of time at hand ? is this pageant, strange 

and grand, 
A portent of destruction blazing fierce o'er sea and 

land?" 
Then the scarlet ebbed, and slow, sky above and earth 

below, 
Drowned in melancholy purple, seemed with grief to 

overflow. 

And while thus I gazed, the day, growing stronger, 

turned to gray ; 
All the transitory splendor and the beauty passed 

away; 
And I recognized the sign of the color poured like 

wine 
In this morn of late October as from clusters of the 

vine. 

'Twas the ripeness of the year; soon, I knew, must 

disappear 
All the warmth and light and happiness that made the 

time so dear; 
And again our souls must wait while the bare earth, 

desolate. 
Bore in patience and in silence all the winter's wrath 

and hate. 



SONG 105 



SONG 



Sing, little bird, oh sing! 

How sweet thy voice and clear 1 
How fine the airy measures ring, 

The sad old world to cheer I 

Bloom, little llower, oh bloom I 

Thou niakest glad the day; 
A scented torch, thou dost illume 

The darkness of the way. 

Dance, little child, oh dance I 

While sweet the small birds sing, 

And [lowers bloom fair, and every glance 
Of sunshine tells of spring. 

Oh! bloom, and sing, and smile. 
Child, bird, and flower, and make 

The sad old world forget awhile 
Its sorrow for your sake ! 



106 KENUNCIATION 



RENUNCIATION 

Like scattered flowers blown all about the bay, 
The rosy sails, lit with the sunrise, shine; 

The white stars in the brightness fade away; 
In perfect silence dawns the day divine. 

"Oh bring me neither gifts of good or ill, 
Delicious day ! Let only peace be mine ! '' 

And the fair hours, advancing calm and still, 

Passed by her mute, nor brought her word or sign. 

But when the glory of the sunset flame 

Held all the world in triumph brief and sweet. 

The last bright hour, with faltering footsteps, came 
And laid a gift august before her feet. 

Yet she entreated, " Peace ! Take back your gift, 

golden hour! I am content to be 
Lonely as yonder fading sails that drift 

'Neath saddened skies upon the silent sea." 

Fate answered her, "The gods may not recall 

Their gifts, once given. Be wise, therefore. Ac- 
cept 

Their bounty gratefully ; for not to all 

Such largess falls. " She bowed her head and wept. 



SONG 107 

She turned her from the sunset's red and gold, 
She faced the dim East's waning violet, 

She saw the twilight stealing pale and cold. 
And all her soul was wrung with her regret. 

Pure, powerful, triumphant music shook 
The listening air and floated up the sky ; 

The dust and ashes of her life she took 
And passed the gift of splendid beauty by. 

"But oh, must storm and strife be mine," she cried, 
" Forever ? Shall I never find repose ? 

Mocked by mirage of hope and still defied 
And buff'eted by every wind that blows ! " 

From farthest distance high a clear voice rang, 
"Ashes and dust shall blossom like the rose! 

Climb thou above the tempests," sweet it sang; 

" Patience ! * On every height there lies repose. ' " 



SONG 

Oh the fragrance of the air 

With the breathing of the flowers! 
Oh the isles of cloudlets fair. 

Shining after balmy showers I 



108 TWO SONNETS 

Oh the freshly rippling notes ! 

Oh the warbling, loud and long, 
From a thousand golden throats! 

Oh the south wind's tender song! 

Oh the mellow dip of oars 

Through the dreamy afternoon ! 

Oh the waves that clasp the shores, 
Chanting one delicious tune! 

Wears the warm, enchanted day 
To the last of its rich hours. 

While my heart, in the sweet May, 
Buds and blossoms with the flowers. 



TWO SONNETS 

Not so ! You stand as long ago a king 

Stood on the seashore, bidding back the tide 
That onward rolled resistless still, to fling 

Its awful volume landward, wild and wide. 
And just as impotent is your command 

To stem the tide that rises in my soul. 
It ebbs not at the lifting of your hand, 

It owns no curb, it yields to no control; 
Mighty it is, and of the elements, — 

Brother of winds and lightning, cold and fire, 



DAYBREAK 109 

Subtle as light, as steadfast and intense; 

Sweet as the music of Apollo's lyre. 
You think to rule the ocean's ebb and flow 
With that soft woman's hand ? Nay, love, not so. 

And like the lighthouse on the rock you stand. 

And pierce the distance with your searching eyes; 
Nor do you heed the waves that storm the land 

And endlessly about you fall and rise. 
But seek the ships that wander night and day 

Within the dim horizon's shadowy ring; 
And some with flashing glance you warn away, 

And some you beckon with sweet welcoming. 
So steadfast still you keep your lofty place, 

Safe from the tumult of the restless tide, 
Firm as the rock in your resisting grace. 

And strong through humble duty, not through 
pride. 
While I — I cast my life before your feet, 
And only live that I may love you, sweet ! 



DAYBREAK 

In the morning twilight, while the household yet 
Slumbering securely day and night forget. 
Lightly o'er the threshold I pass, and breathless stand 
In the dream of beauty that rests on sea and land. 



110 DAYBREAK 

Fresh and calm and dewy, bathed in delicate air, 
The happy earth awakens and grows of day aware. 
Sweetly breaks the silence some bird's delicious trill, 
And from the southern distance a breeze begins to 
thrill. 

All the stars have faded, and the low large moon 
O'er the western water will have vanished soon. 
Crystal-clear and cloudless the awful arch is bright. 
As up the conscious heaven streams the growing light. 

On the far horizon softly sleeps the haze; 
O'er the ocean spaces steal the rosy rays; 
Winds and waves are quiet, only far away 
'Gainst the rock a breaker tosses sudden spray. 

Out behind the headland glides the coaster slow. 
All her canvas blushing in the ruddy glow; 
Where the steadfast lighthouse watches day and night, 
Beautiful and stately she passes out of sight. 

Day that risest splendid, with promise so divine. 
Mine is thy perfect gladness, thy loveliness is mine. 
Thou touchest with thy blessing God's creatures great 

and small; 
None shalt thou find more grateful than I among them 

aU. 



SONG 111 



I turn my face in worship to the glory of the East. 
I thank the lavish giver of my life's perpetual feast, 
And fain would I be worthy to partake of Nature's 



And share with her a moment so exquisite as this I 



SONG 

O Love, Love, Love! 

Whether it rain or shine, 
Wliether the clouds frown or the sky is clear, 
Whether the thunder fill the air with fear, 
Whether the winter rage or peace is here, 

If only thou art near. 

Then are all days divine. 

O Love, Love, Love I 

Where thou art not, the place 
Is sad to me as death. It would be cold 
In heaven without thee, if I might not hold 
Thy hand in mine, if I might not behold 

The beauty manifold. 

The wonder of thy face. 



112 THE NESTLING SWALLOWS 



THE NESTLING SWALLOWS 

The summer day was spoiled with fitful storm; 

At night the wind died, and the soft rain dropped 
With lulling murmur, and the air was warm. 

And all the tumult and the trouble stopped. 

We sat within the bright and quiet room, 

Glowing with light and flowers and friendliness; 

And faces in the radiance seemed to bloom, 
Touched into beauty as by a caress. 

And one struck music from the ivory keys, — 
Beethoven's music; and the awful chords 

Upbore us like the waves of mighty seas 
That sing aloud, "All glory is the Lord's!" 

And the great sound awoke beneath the eaves 
The nestling swallows; and their twittering cry, 

With the light touch of raindrops on the leaves, 
Broke into the grand surging melody. 

Across its deep, tremendous questioning. 
Its solemn acquiescence, low and clear, 

The rippling notes ran sweet, with airy ring 
Surprised, inquiring, but devoid of fear; 



THE NESTLING SWALLOWS 113 

Lapsing to silence at the music's close, 

A dreamy clamor, a contented stir. 
"It made no discord," smiling, as he rose, 

Said the great master's great interpreter. 

No discord, truly ! Ever Nature weaves 

Her sunshine with her shadow, joy with pain: 

The asking thunder through high heaven that cleaves 
Is lost in the low ripple of the rain. 

About the edges of the dread abyss 

The innocent blossoms laugh toward the sun; 

Questions of life and death, of bale or bliss, 
A thousand tender touches overrun. 

Why should I chronicle so slight a thing? 

But such things light up life like wayside flowers, 
And memory, like a bird with folded wing. 

Broods with still joy o'er such delicious hours. 

Dear unf orgotten time ! Fair summer night ! 

Thy nestling swallows and thy dropping rain, 
The golden music and the faces bright. 

Will steal with constant sweetness back again. 

A joy to keep when winter darkness comes; 

A living sense of beauty to recall; 
A warm, bright thought, when bitter cold benumbs, 

To make me glad and grateful. That is all. 



114 FLOWERS IN OCTOBER 



VESPER SONG 

Lies the sunset splendor far and wide, 

On iho golden tide I 
Drifting slow toward yonder ovoning rod, 
With the faint stars sparkling overhead, 
roacefully we glide. 

Swoot is rest: the summer day is done, 
Gone tlio ardent huu. 

All is still: no wind of twilight blows; 

Shuts the evening like a crimson rose; 
Night comos like a nun. 

Lift we loving voices, pure and clear. 
To the Father's ear; 
Fragrant as the flowers the thoughts wo raise 
Up to heaven, while o'er the ocean ways 
Draws the darkness near. 



FLOWEIIS IN OCTOBER 

TuE long black ledges are white with gulls, 
As if the breakers had left their foam; 

With the dying daylight the wild wind lulls, 
And the scattered lishing-boala steer for homo. 



FLOWKllS IN OCTORER 115 

On the crag 1 Hit, with tlio oiiHt boforo. 

The Huii bcliiml mo in low in tlio sky; 
Warm is its touch on tho rocky shore; 

Sad th(^ vuHt ocean spaces lio. 

Tho cricket is hoarse in tho faihnl grass ; 

Tlie h)W hush rusthw so tliin untl sere; 
Swift ovoi'head th(^ small hinls pass, 

With cri(^s that are h)nely and swtH^t ami clear. 

The last chill aat(irs their pi^tals foM 
And gone is tho morning-glory's hell, 

I5ut close in a loving hand I h(»hl 
Long sprays of tlie scailet jtimpernel, 

And thi<'k at my f«iet an^ blossom and leaf, 
Blossoms rich red as the robes of kings; 

Hardly they 're touched by the autumn's grief; 
Do tlu^y surmise what tho winter brings? 

I turn my oyivs from th(^ swei^t, sad sky, 

From the foam-white gulls and the sails that 
gleam, 

To muse on tho scattered flowers that lie 
Lost as yc^t in a summer dream. 

() darlings, nurs(Ml by the salt sea-spray I 
O shapes of beauty so (juaint and bright! 



116 WAIT 

But for a little the frosts delay, 

Soon will be ended your brief delight. 

Could I but succor you, every one. 

Spread wings of safety 'twixt harm and you; 
Call from its southern travel the sun. 

Banish the snow from the arching blue ! 

It may not be, and the frosts must fall. 

The winter must reign in the summer's stead; 

But, though you perish beyond recall, 
Ever I love you, alive or dead. 



WAIT 

Are the roses fallen, dear my child? 

Has the winter left us only thorns. 
Sharp and shuddering stalks in tangles wild, 

Set with cruel teeth and iron horns? 

Wait a little, fret not, and at last 
Beauty will the barren boughs again 

Tenderly re- clothe, when snows are past. 
And the earth grows glad in sun and rain. 

Never vex your heart nor tear your hands, 
Searching 'mid the thorns for vanished bliss; 



KAREN 117 

For the soul that patience understands 
Needs no wisdom more divine than this: 

Wait ! The sweet flowers of the coming spring 
Beautiful as those you mourn shall be. 

Wait! for happy birds are sure to sing, 
While now roses bloom for you and mo. 



KAREN 

At her low quaint wheel she sits to spin, 
Deftly drawing the long, light rolls 

Of carded wool through her lingers thin, 
By the fireside at the Isles of Shoals. 

She is not pretty, she is not young. 

Poor homesick Karen, who sits and spins, 

Humming a song in her native tongue. 
That falters and stops, and again begins. 

While her wheel flies fast, with its drowsy hum, 
And she makes a picture of pensive grace 

As thoughts of her well-loved Norway come 
And deepen the shadows across her face. 

Her collar is white as the drifted snow, 

And she spun and wove her blue gown fine 



118 KAKEN 

With those busy hands. See, a flitting glow 

Makes her pale cheek burn and her dark eyes shine ! 

Left you a lover in that far land, 

O Karen sad, that you pine so long ? 
Would I could unravel and understand 

That sorrowful, sweet Norwegian song! 

When the spring wind blew, the "America wind," 
As your people call it, that bears away 

Their youths and maidens a home to find 
In this distant country, could you not stay 

And live in that dear Norway still, 

And let the emigrant crowd sail West 
Without you 1 Well, you have had your will. 

Why would you fly from your sheltering nest? 

homesick Karen, listen to me: 

You are not young, and you are not fair, 

But Waldemar no one else can see. 
For he carries your image everywhere. 

Is he too boyish a lover for you. 

With all his soul in his frank blue eyes ? 

Feign you unconsciousness ? Is it true 

You know not his heart in your calm hand lies? 



A MUSSEL SHELL 119 

Handsome and gentle and good is he; 

Loves you, Karen, better than life; 
Do but consider him, can't you see 

What a happy woman would be his wife? 

You won't be merry? You can't be glad? 

Still must you mourn for that home afar? 
Well, here is an end of a hope I had, 

And I am sorry for Waldemar! 



A MUSSEL SHELL 

Why art thou colored like the evening sky 
Sorrowing for sunset? Lovely dost thou lie, 
Bared by the washing of the eager brine. 
At the snow's motionless and wind-carved line. 

Cold stretch the snows, cold throng the waves, the 

wind 
Stings sharp, — an icy fire, a touch unkind, — 
And sighs as if with passion of regret, 
The while I mark thy tints of violet. 

beauty strange! shape of perfect grace. 
Whereon the lovely waves of color trace 
The history of the years that passed thee by, 
And touched thee with the pathos of the sky I 



120 TRUST 

The sea shall crush thee; yea, the ponderous wave 
Up the loose beach shall grind, and scoop thy grave. 
Thou thought of God ! What more than thou am I ? 
Both transient as the sad wind's passing sigh. 

TEUST 

See how the wind is hauling point by point to the 
south, 
By the boats in the little harbor, that swing to its 
lightest touch; 
And the coasting craft emerge from the far-ofif river's 
mouth. 
And on the rocks the breakers relax their impotent 
clutch. 

At last is the tempest ended, the bitter northeast 



And the world will soon be sparkling in clear white 

fire and dew, 
And the sullen clouds melt swiftly, by the might of 

warm wind seized. 
And the heavens shine in splendor, where broadens 

the matchless blue. 

Carol the birds in chorus ; glitters the snow-white gull, 
Screaming loud in mid-air, slow-soaring high with 
delight; 



TRUST 121 

And the rosebuds loosen their petals, the drenched 
flowers, sodden and dull, 
Break out into stars of purple and gold and crimson 
and white. 

Where wert thou, Spirit of Beauty, while earth lay- 
cold and dark, 
And the chill wind struck to our hearts, and the 
sky like an enemy scowled. 
And we crept through the mists desponding, and never 
a glimmering spark 
Shot a ray through the gloom while the storm like 
a demon groveled and growled ? 

Where art thou. Heavenly Father, when thy world 
seems spoiled with sin. 
And darker far than thy tempest arises the smoke 
of doubt, 
That blackens the sky of the soul 1 — for faith is hard 
to win: 
To our finite sight wrong triumphs and noble things 
die out, 

While shapes of monstrous evil make fearful thy nights 
and days. 
And murder stalks unhindered, working its hideous 
will. 



122 MODJESKA 

And innocence, gentleness, charity seem to forsake 
earth's ways, 
And in the hearts of thy creatures are madness and 
nameless ill. 

Behind the cloud Thou waitest, hidden, yet very near, 

Infinite Spirit of Beauty, Infinite Power of Good! 
At last Thou wilt scatter the vapors, and all things 
shall be clear, 
And evil shall vanish away like a mist by the wind 
pursued. 

MODJESKA 

Deft hands called Chopin's music from the keys. 

Silent she sat, her slender figure's poise 
Flower-like and fine and full of lofty ease; 

She heard her Poland's most consummate voice 
From power to pathos falter, sink and change; 

The music of her land, the wondrous high, 
Utmost expression of its genius strange, — 

Incarnate sadness breathed in melody. 
Silent and thrilled she sat, her lovely face 

Flushing and paling like a delicate rose 

Shaken by summer winds from its repose 
Softly this way and that with tender grace, 

Now touched by sun, now into shadow turned, — 

While bright with kindred fire her deep eyes burned ! 



SONG 123 



SONG 



SWALLOW, sailing lightly 
The crystal deeps of blue, 

With flashing wings that brightly 
Glitter the sunshine through, 

What sayest thou, returning 
From sunny lands and fair, 

That summer roses burning 
Shall light the fragrant air ? 

That merry days thou bringest. 
And gone is winter's woe, — 

Is this the song thou singest 1 
Gay prophet, is it so? 

1 know all beauties follow 

Swift in thy shining track, 
But to my heart, O swallow, 
Canst thou bring summer backl 

No shaft of sunshine glorious 
Shall melt my winter snows, 

No kiss of June victorious 
Awake for me the rose ! 



124 LARS 



LAES 

"Tell us a story of these isles," they said, 

The daughters of the West, whose eyes had seen 

For the first time the circling sea, instead 
Of the blown prairie's waves of grassy green: 

"Tell us of wreck and peril, storm and cold, 
Wild as the wildest." Under summer stars, 

With the slow moonrise at our back, I told 
The story of the young Norwegian, Lars. 

That youth with the black eyebrows sharply drawn 
In strong curves, like some sea-bird's wings out- 
spread 

O'er his dark eyes, is Lars, and this fair dawn 
Of womanhood, the maiden he will wed. 

She loves him for the dangers he has past. 

Her rosy beauty glowed before his stern 
And vigilant regard, until at last 

Her sweetness vanquished Lars the taciturn. 

For he is ever quiet, strong, and wise; 

Wastes nothing, not a gesture nor a breath; 
Forgets not, gazing in the maiden's eyes, 

A year ago it was not love, but death, 



LAKS 125 

That clasped him, and can hardly learn as yet 
How to be merry, haunted by that pain 

And terror, and remembering with regret 
The comrade he can never see again. 

Out from the harbor on that winter day 

Sailed the two men to set their trawl together. 

Down swept the sudden snow-squall o'er the bay. 
And hurled their slight boat onward like a feather. 

They tossed they knew not whither, till at last 
Under the lighthouse cliff they found a lee, 

And out the road-lines of the trawl they cast 
To moor her, if so happy they might be. 

But quick the slender road-lines snapt in twain 
In the wild breakers, and once more they tossed 

Adrift; and, watching from his misty pane. 

The lighthouse keeper muttered, "They are lost!" 

Lifted the snow: night fell; swift cleared the sky; 

The air grew sharp as death with polar cold; 
Raged the insensate gale, and flashing high 

In starlight keen the hissing billows rolled. 

Driven before the wind's incessant scourge 

All night they fled, — one dead ere morning lay. 

Lars saw his strange, drawn countenance emerge 
In the fierce sunrise light of that drear day, 



126 LARS 

And thought, "A little space and I shall be 

Even as he, " and, gazing in despair 
O'er the wide, weltering waste, no sign could see 

Of hope, or help, or comfort, anywhere. 

Two hundred miles before the hurricane 
The dead and living drove across the sea. 

The third day dawned. His dim eyes saw again 
The vast green plain, breaking eternally 

In ghastly waves. But in the early li^ht, 

On the horizon glittering like a star, 
East growing, looming tall, with canvas white, 

Sailed his salvation southward from afar ! 

Down she bore, rushing o'er the hills of brine, 
Straight for his feeble signal. As she past. 

Out from the schooner's deck they flung a line, 
And o'er his head the open noose was cast. 

Clutching with both his hands the bowline knot 

Caught at his throat, swift drawn through fire he 
seemed. 
Whelmed in the icy sea, and he forgot 

Life, death, and all things, — yet he thought he 
dreamed 

A dread voice cried, "We 've lost him! " and a sting 
Of anguish pierced his clouded senses through; 



SONG 127 

A moment more, and like a lifeless thing 
He lay among the eager, pitying crew. 

Long time he swooned, while o'er the ocean vast 
The dead man tossed alone, they knew not where ; 

But youth and health triumphant were at last. 
And here is Lars, you see, and here the fair 

Young snow-and-rose-hloom maiden he will wed. 

His face is kindly, though it seems so stern. 
Death passed him by, and life begins instead, 

For Thora sweet and Lars the taciturn. 

SONG 

A RUSHING of wings in the dawn, 

A flight of birds in the sky ! 
The darkness of night withdrawn, 

In an outburst of melody ! 

O birds through the heaven that soar 
With such tumult of jubilant song! 

The shadows are flying before. 
For the rapture of life is strong, 

And my spirit leaps to the light 
On the wings of its hope new-born. 

And I follow your radiant flight 
Through the golden halls of morn! 



128 TIIORA 

THOKA 

Come under my cloak, ray darling I 

Thou little Norwegian maid! 
Nor wind, nor rain, nor rolling sea 

Shall cliill or make thee afraid. 

Come close, little blue-oyed maiden, 

Nestle within my arm; 
Though the lightning leaps and the thunder peals, 

Wo shall be safe from harm. 

Swift from the dim horizon 

The dark sails scud for the land. 
Look, how the rain-cloud drops its fringe 

About us on either hand I 

And high from our plunging bowsprit 

Dashes the cold white spray, 
And storm and tumult fill the air 

And trouble the summer day. 

But thou fearest nothing, darling. 

Though tlie tempest mutter and brood. 

Though the wild wind tosses thy bright brown locks, 
And flutters thy grass-green snood. 



TUOKA 129 

I kisH thy wIho whito forohoad, 
VVliili^ tli(^ Uiuiulcr rolls so grand; 

And I iiold ilui curve of thy lovely check 
In the hollow of my hand; 

And I wiitch the sky and ilu^ ocean, 

And study thy gentle faci^ — 
Its liiu^s of Hwoetncss and power, 

The type of thy strong Norae race. 

And I wonder what thy life will be. 

Thou dear and charming cliild, 
Who hast driftetl so far across the world 

To a home so lone and wild. 

Rude and rough and sad, perhaps; 

Anxious, and full of toil; 
But I think no sorrow or hardship 

Thine inn(^r [)wice can spoil. 

For better than kingly fortunes 

Is the wealth that thou dost hold — 

A nature i)orfoctly balanced, 
A beauty of heart untold. 

Tliou wilt ()p(Mi th(^ door of patience. 
When sorrow shall come and knock; 

15nt to ev(^ry evil, unworthy thing 
Wilt thou the gates fast lock. 



130 THE HAPPY BIEDS 

So shall thy days be blessed, 

Whatever may be thy lot. 
But what I am silently pondering 

Thou understandest not, 

And liftest to me thy steadfast eyes, 
Calm as if Heaven looked through. 

Do all the maidens in Norway 
Have eyes so clear and blue ? 

See, darling, where, in the distance, 
The cloud breaks up in the sky, 

And lets a ray of sunshine fall 
Where our far-off islands lie I 

White they gleam, and the sea grows bright, 

And silver shines the foam. 
A little space, and our anchor drops 

In the haven of Love and Home ! 



THE HAPPY BIEDS 

All about the gable tall swift the swallows flit, 

Wheel and call and dart and, fluttering, chatter 
sweet; 

All along the sloping, sunny eaves they perch and sit, 
Bright as lapis-lazuli, glittering in the heat. 



THE HAPPY BIRDS 131 

O spirits of the summer, so dainty, delicate, 

Creatures born of sunshine and cheer and all de- 
light, 
Pray you, but delay a moment, yet a little wait, 

Ere for southern lands again you spread your wings 
in flight! 

Yet the August sun is hot, yet the days are long, 
Though the grass is over-ripe and the aster blows; 

Still the silence echoes to the sparrow's quiet song. 
Still, though late, in thorny thickets lingers the 
wild rose. 

Tarry yet a little, for after you have flown 

Lonely all the housetops and still the air will 
grow; 
Where your cheerful voices rang autumn winds will 
moan; 
Presently we shall be dull with winter's weight of 
snow. 

Oh! that we could follow you and cling to Summer's 
hand. 
Ye happy, happy birds, flying lightly through the 
sky! 
Reach with you the rapture of some far, sunny land, 
Leave to Winter's bitterness our glad and gay good- 
by! 



132 SLUMBER SONG 

SLUMBER SONG 

Thou little child, with tender, clinging arms, 
Drop thy sweet head, my darling, down and rest 

Upon my shoulder, rest with all thy charms; 
Be soothed and comforted, be loved and blessed. 

Against thy silken, honey-colored hair 
I lean a loving cheek, a mute caress; 

Close, close I gather thee and kiss thy fair 
White eyelids, sleep so softly doth oppress. 

Dear little face, that lies in calm content 
Within the gracious hollow that God made 

In every human shoulder, where He meant 
Some tired head for comfort should be laid ! 

Most like a heavy-folded rose thou art, 
In summer air reposing, warm and still. 

Dream thy sweet dreams upon my quiet heart; 
I watch thy slumber; naught shall do thee ill. 

STARLIGHT 

The chill, sad evening wind of winter blows 
Across the headland, bleak and bare and high, 

"* bustling the thin, dry grass that sparsely grows, 
And shivering whispers like a human sigh. 



STARLIGHT 133 

The sky is thick with stars that sparkle keen, 
And great Capella in the clear northeast 

Kolls slowly up the cloudless heaven serene, 
And the stern uproar of the sea has ceased 

A fleeting moment, and the earth seems dead — 
So still, so sad, so lonely, and so cold ! 

Snow- dust beneath me, and above my head 

Star-dust in blackness, like thick-sprinkled gold. 

The stars of fire, the tiny stars of ice. 

The awful whirling worlds in space that wheel. 

The dainty crystal's delicate device, — 

One hand has fashioned both — and I, who kneel 

Here on this winter night, 'twixt stars and snow, 
As transient as a snowflake and as weak, 

Yearning like all my fellow-men to know 

His hidden purpose that no voice may speak; 

In silent awe I watch his worlds : I see 

Mighty Capella' s signal, and I know 
The steady beam of light that reaches me 

Left the great orb full seventy years ago. 

A human lifetime ! Eeason strives in vain 
To grasp at time and space, and evermore 



134 STARLIGHT 

Thought, weary grown and baffled, must again 
Retrace its slow steps to the humble door 

Of wistful patience, there to watch and wait 
Devoutly, till at last Death's certain hand. 

Imperious, opens wide the mystic gate 

Between us and the future He has planned. 

Yea, Death alone. But shall Death conquer all 1 
Love fights and pleads in anguish of despair. 

Sooner shall great Capella wavering fall 
Than any voice respond to his wild prayer. 

And yet, what fire divine makes hope to glow 
Through the pale ashes of our earthly fate t 

Immortal hope, above all joy, below 

All depths of pain wherein we strive and wait I 

Dull is our sense; hearing we do not hear, 
And seeing see not; yet we vaguely feel 

Somewhere is comfort in the darkness drear. 

And, hushing doubts and fears, we learn to kneel. 

Starlight and silence ! Dumb are sky and sea ; 

Silent as death the awful spaces lie; 
Speechless the bitter wind blows over me, 

Sad as the breathing of a human sigh. 



SONG 135 

SONG 

Hark, how sweet the thrushes sing! 

Hark, how clear the robins call I 
Chorus of the happy spring. 

Summer's madrigal! 

Flood the world with joy and cheer, 
ye birds, and pour your song 

Till the farthest distance hear 
Notes so glad and strong! 

Storm the earth with odors sweet, 
O ye flowers, that blaze in light! 

Crowd about June's shining feet, 
All ye blossoms bright. 

Shout, ye waters, to the sun ! 

Back are winter's fetters hurled; 
Summer's glory is begun; 

Beauty holds the world! 

EEMONSTRANCE 

"Come out and hear the birds sing! Oh, wherefore sit 

you there 
At the western window watching, dreamy-pale and 

still and fair, 



136 REMONSTRANCE 

While the warm summer wind disparts your 

clustering gold? 
What is it on the dim sea line your eyes would fain 

behold?" 
"I seek a sail that never looms from out the purple 

haze 
At rosy dawn, or fading eve, or in the noontide's 

blaze." 

" A sail ? Lo, many a column of white canvas far and 
near! 

All day they glide across the blue, appear and disap- 
pear; 

See, how they crowd the offing, flocking from the sul- 
try South! 

Why stirs a smile more sad than tears the patience of 
your mouth ? " 

"They lean before the freshening breeze, they cross 
the ocean floor, 

But the ship that brings me tidings of my love comes 



"Come out into the garden where the crimson phloxes 

burn. 
And every slender lily-stem upbears a lustrous urn; 
A thousand greetings float to you from bud and bell 

and star, 



REMONSTRANCE 137 

Their sweetness freights the breathing wind; how 

beautiful thoy arc ! " 
"Their brilliant color blinds me; I sicken at their 

breath ; 
The whisper of this mournful wind is sad to me as 

death." 

"And must you sit so white and cold while all the 

world is bright? 
All, come with me and see how all is brimming with 

delight! 
On the beach the emerald breaker murmurs o'er the 

tawny sand; 
The white spray from the rock is tossed, by melting 

rainbows spanned." 
"Nay, mock me not! I have no heart for nature's 

happiness ; 
One sound alone my soul can fill, one shape my sight 

can bless." 

"And are your fetters forged so fast, though you were 

free and strong. 
By the old, mysterious madness, told in story and in 

song 
Since burdened with the human race the world began 

to roll? 
Can you not thrust the weight away, so heavy on your 

soul?" 



138 MORNING SONG 

"There is no power in earth or heaven such madness 

to destroy, 
And I would not part with sorrow that is sweeter far 

than joy.'' 

"Oh marvelous content, that from such still despair is 

born! 
Nay, I would wrestle with my fate till love were slain 

with scorn! 
O mournful Mariana ! I would never sit so pale, 
Watching, with eyes grown dim with dreams, the 

coming of a sail ! " 
"Peace, peace! How can you measure a depth you 

never knew ? 
My chains to me are dearer than your freedom is to 

you. " 

MOENING SONG 

We launch our boat upon the sparkling sea, 

We dip our rhythmic oars with song and cheer; 

Before our dancing prow the shadows flee. 
Behind us fast the fair coasts disappear. 

So fade our childhood's shores. Without regret 
We leave the safe, green, happy fields, and try 

The vague, uncertain ocean, storm-beset, 
Nor see the tempests that before us lie. 



BEETHOVEN 139 

Flushed with our hope the unknown future gleams, 
Freighted with blissful dreams our barque floats on, 

And life a shining path of victory seems, 

Crowned with a golden peace when day is done. 

BEETHOVEN 

If God speaks anywhere, in any voice. 
To us, his creatures, surely here and now 
We hear Him, while the great chords seem to bow 

Our heads, and all the symphony's breathless noise 
Breaks over us with challenge to our souls ! 

Beethoven's music! From the mountain peaks 
The strong, divine, compelling thunder rolls, 

And, " Come up higher, come ! " the words it speaks, 
" Out of your darkened valleys of despair, 

Behold, I lift you upon mighty wings 
Into Hope's living, reconciling air! 

Breathe, and forget your life's perpetual stings; 
Dream, — folded on the breast of Patience sweet. 
Some pulse of pitying love for you may beat ! ^' 

SONG 

What good gift can I bring thee, thou dearest ! 

All joys to thee belong; 
Thy praise from loving lips all day thou hearest, 

Sweeter than any song. 



140 WITH THE TIDE 

For thee the sun shines and the earth rejoices 

In fragrance, music, light; 
The spring-time woos thee with a thousand voices, 

For thee her flowers are bright; 
Youth crowns thee, and love waits upon thy splendor, 

Trembling beneath thine eyes; 
The morning sky is yet serene and tender, 

Thy life before thee lies. 
What shall I bring thee, O thou dearest, fairest! 

Thou boldest in thy hand 
My heart as lightly as the rose thou wearest; 

Nor wilt thou understand 
Thou art my sun, my rose, my day, my morrow, 

My lady proud and sweet! 
I bring the treasure of a priceless sorrow, 

To lay before thy feet. 

WITH THE TIDE 

Swift o'er the water my light yacht dances, 
Flying fast from the wind of the South; 

Bright from her bowsprit the white foam glances, 
And straight we steer for the harbor's mouth. 

The coast line dim from the haze emerges, 
With tender tints of the spring-time toned; 

On silver beaches roll sparkling surges. 

And woods are green on the hills enthroned. 



WITH THE TIDE 141 

The sentinel lighthouses watch together, 

As the stately river we reach at last; 
The robins sing in the blithe May weather, 

And the flood-tide bears us onward fast. 

From bank to bank flows a chorus mellow 
Of rippling frogs and of singing birds; 

The fields are starry with flowers of yellow, 
And green slopes pasture the lowing herds. 

A lovely perfume blows softly over 

From apple-blossoms on either side. 
From golden willow and budding clover, 

And many a garden of lowly pride. 

And a lazy echo of glad cocks crowing 
From door-yards cosy rings far and near! 

And the city's murmur is slowly growing 
From out the distance distinct and clear. 

Over the river, so broadly flowing. 

Cottages look from the sheltering trees; 

And out through the orchard, with blossoms snowing, 
Comes a brown-haired maiden from one of these. 

She waves her hand as in friendly token. 
And watches my swift boat sailing on; 

I answer her signal — no word is spoken, 
'T is but a moment, and she is gone. 



142 "THE SUNRISE NEVER FAILED US YET " 

And when, from the far-off town returning, 
Dropping down with the ebbing tide. 

Seaward we sail, with the sunset burning 
O'er wastes of the ocean, lone and wide, 

Again in the orchard her white hand lifted 
Shows like a waft of a sea-bird's wing. 

While the rosy blossoms are o'er her drifted, 
And loud with rapture the robins sing. 

I know her not and shall know her never, 
But ever I watch for that friendly sign; 

And up or down with the stately river 
Her lovely greeting is always mine. 

And her presence lends to the scene a glory, 
More beauty to blossom and stream and tree; 

And back o'er the wastes of the ocean hoary 
Her gentle image I take with me. 



"THE SUNRISE NEVER FAILED US YET" 

Upon the sadness of the sea 
The sunset broods regretfully; 
From the far lonely spaces, slow 
Withdraws the wistful afterglow. 



ENTHRALLED I43 

So out of life the splendor dies; 
So darken all the happy skies; 
So gathers twilight, cold and stern; 
But overhead the planets burn; 

And up the east another day 
Shall chase the bitter dark away j 
"What though our eyes with tears be wet? 
The sunrise never failed us yet. 

The blush of dawn may yet restore 
Our light and hope and joy once more. 
Sad soul, take comfort, nor forget 
That sunrise never failed us yet! 

ENTHRALLED 
Like huge waves, petrified, against the sky, 

The solemn hills are heaved; by shadow kissed, 
Or softly touched by delicate light they lie 

Melting in sapphire and in amethyst. 

The thronging mountains, crowding all the scene, 
Are like the long swell of an angry sea, 

Tremendous surging tumult that has been 
Smitten to awful silence suddenly. 

The nearer slopes with autumn glory blaze, 
Garnet and ruby, topaz, amber, gold; 



144 ENTHRALLED 

Up through the quiet air the thin smoke strays 
From many a lonely homestead, brown and old. 

The scattered cattle graze in pastures bare, 
The brooks sing unconcerned beside the way, 

Belated crickets chirp, while still and fair 
Dies into sunset peace the golden day. 

And toward the valley, where the little town 

Beckons with twinkling lights, that gleam below 

Like bright and friendly eyes, we loiter down 
And find our shelter and our fireside glow. 

But while the gay hours pass with laugh and jest, 
And all is radiant warmth and joy once more, 

My captured thought must wander out in quest 
Of that vast mountain picture, o'er and o'er; 

Where underneath the black and star-sown arch 
Earth's ancient trouble speaks eternally; 

And I must watch those mighty outlines march 
In silence, motionless, with none to see; 

While from the north the night- wind sighing sweeps. 
And, sharp against the crystal sky relieved, 

The tumult of forgotten ages sleeps 

Where like huge waves the solemn hills are heaved. 



SONG 145 



SONG 



Rolls the long breaker in splendor, and glances, 

Leaping in light! 
Sparkling and singing the swift ripple dances, 

Laughing and bright; 
Up through the heaven the curlew is flying, 

Soaring so high! 
Sweetly his wild notes are ringing, and dying, 

Lost in the sky. 
Glitter the sails to the south-wind careening, 

White-winged and brave; 
Bowing to breeze and to billow, and leaning 

Low o'er the wave. 
Beautiful wind, with the touch of a lover 

Leading the hours. 
Helping the winter-worn world to recover 

All its lost flowers. 
Gladly I hear thy warm whisper of rapture, 

Sorrow is o'er! 
Earth all her music and bloom shall recapture, 

Happy once more. 



146 TRANSITION 



TEANSITION 

A CLASH of human tongues within 
Made the bright room a dreary jail; 

Dull webs of talk the idle spin 
Turned all its glow and color pale. 

Outside, the peaceful sunset sky- 
Was burning, deepening with the night; 

One great star, glittering still and high, 
Sent o'er the sea its track of light. 

And wearily I spoke, and heard 

An empty echo of reply, 
Fretting like some imprisoned bird 

That longs to break its cage and fly; 

When suddenly the din seemed stilled, 

Karer the air so dense before; 
A mystic rapture warmed and thrilled 

My heart, and I was dull no more. 

Joy stole to me with sweet surmise, 
With sense of some unmeasured good; 

There was no need to lift my eyes 
To know who on the threshold stood, 



TRANSITION 147 

More splendid than the brilliant night 
That looked in at the window-pane, 

Welcome as to parched fields the light, 
Refreshing touch of summer rain ! 

She moved with recognition sweet, 

She bowed with courtesy calm and kind, 

As graceful as the waving wheat 

That bends before the summer wind. 

Swift sped the step of lagging time. 

As if a breeze of morning blew; 
Clear as the ring of Chaucer's rhyme 

The vapid, idle talking grew ! 

I heard her rich tones sounding through 

The many voices like a strain 
Of lofty music, strong and true, 

And perfect joy was mine again. 

I did not seek her radiant face, 

Bright as spring light when winter dies, 

But warm across the crowded space 
I felt the gaze of noble eyes; 

And in that glorious look, at last, 
I seemed like one with sins forgiven, 

With all life's pain and sorrow passed. 
Entering the open gates of heaven ! 



148 LEVIATHAN 



LEVIATHAN 



Betwixt the bleak rock and the barren shore 

Rolled miles of hoary waves that hissed with frost, 

And from the bitter north with sullen roar 

Swept the wild wind, and the wild water tossed. 

In the cold sky, hard, pitiless, and drear, 

The sun dropped down; but ere the world grew 
gray, 

A sweet, reluctant rose-tint, sad and clear. 

Stained icy crags and leagues of leaping spray. 

Midway between the lone rock and the shore 
A fountain fair sprang skyward suddenly. 

And sudden fell, and yet again once more 
The column rose, and sank into the sea. 

Silent, ethereal, mystic, delicate. 

Mushed with delicious glow of fading rose, 

It grew and vanished, like some genie great, 

Some wild, thin phantom, woven of winter snows. 

'T was the foam-fountain of the mighty whale, 
Rising each time more far and faint and dim. 

All his huge strength against the thundering gale 
He set; no hurricane could hinder him I 



TO A VIOLIN 149 

There came to me a gladness in the sight, 
A pleasure in the thought of life so strong, 

Daring the elements, and making light 

Of winter's wrathful power of wreck and wrong. 

I gloried in his triumph o'er the vast 

Blind rage of Nature. All her awful force, 

The terror of her tempest full she cast 

Against him, yet he kept his ponderous course. 

For her worst fury he nor stayed nor turned. 

'Twas joy to think in such tremendous play, 
Through the sea's cruelty, all unconcerned. 

Leviathan pursued his placid way ! 



TO A VIOLIN 

What wondrous power from heaven upon thee 
wrought ? 

What prisoned Ariel within thee broods? 
Marvel of human skill and human thought, 

Light as a dry leaf in the winter woods! 

Thou mystic thing, all beautiful ! What mind 
Conceived thee, what intelligence began 

And out of chaos thy rare shape designed, 
Thou delicate and perfect work of man? 



150 PHILOSOPHY 

Across my hands thou liest mute and still; 

Thou wilt not breathe to me thy secret fine; 
Thy matchless tones the eager air shall thrill 

To no entreaty or command of mine; 

But -comes thy master, lo ! thou yieldest all : 
Passion and pathos, rapture and despair; 

To the soul's need thy searching voice doth call 
In language exquisite beyond compare, 

Till into speech articulate at last 

Thou seem'st to break, and thy charmed listener 
hears 
Thee waking echoes of the vanished past, 

Touching the source of gladness and of tears; 

And with bowed head he lets the sweet wave roll 
Across him, swayed by that weird power of thine, 

And reverence and wonder fill his soul 
That man's creation should be so divine. 



PHILOSOPHY 

So soon the end must come. 

Why waste in sighs our breath 1 

So soon our lips are dumb, 
So swift comes death. 



PHILOSOPHY 151 

So brief the time to smile, 

Why darken wc the air 
With frowns and tears, the while 

We nurse despair? 

Hold firm the sujBfering will 

And bravely thrust it back; 
Fight with the powers of ill, 

The legions black. 

Stand in the sunshine sweet 

And treasure every ray, 
Nor seek with stubborn feet 

The darksome way. 

Have courage ! Keep good cheer ! 

Our longest time is brief. 
To those who hold you dear 

Bring no more grief. 

But cherish blisses small. 

Grateful for least delight 
That to your lot doth fall, 

However slight. 

And lo ! all hearts will bring 

Love, to make glad your days; 
Blessings untold will spring 

About your ways. 



152 MEDllICK AND OSPREY 

So shall life bloom and shino, 
Lifted its ])ain Jihovo, 

Orownod willi lliis gift, diviiio, 
The gift of Lovo. 



MEDllICK AND OSPKEY 

Medrick, waving wide wings low over tlio broo/e- 
ripplod biglit; 
Osjiroy, soaring superl) overhead in the fathomless 
blue, 
Graceful and fearless and strong, do you tlirill with 
the morning's delight 
Even as 1 ? P>rings the sunwhine a message of beauty 
for you ? 

Oh the blithe In-eozn of the west, blowing sweet from 
the far-away land, 
Bowing the grass heavy-headed, thick crowding, so 
slender and proud ! 
Oh the warm sea sparkling over with waves by the 
swift wind fanned! 
Oil the, \vi(l(^ sky (crystal clear, with bright islands of 
delicate cloud! 

Feel you tlic waking of life in the world locked long 
time in tlie frost, 
J^eautiful birds, with the liglit Hashing bright from 
your banner-like wings? 



ALONE 153 

Osprey, soaring on high, in i]w dopths of thi^ .sky half 
lost, 
Medrick, hovering low whoro the sandpiper's sweot 
note rings 1 

Nothing am 1 to you, a blot, porliajis, on the day; 
Nauglit do I add to your joy, but precious you are 
in my sight; 
And you seem on your glad wing.s to lift uw up iiilo 
the other away, 
And the morning divine is more radiant because of 
your glorious flight. 



ALONE 

TiiK lilies clustered fair and tall; 

I stood outside the garden wall; 

I saw her light robe glimmering through 

The fragrant evening's dusk and d(;w. 

She stooped above the lilies pale; 
Up the clear east the moon did sail; 
I saw her Ixuid her lovely head 
O'er her rich roses l)lushing red. 

Her slender hand the flowers caressed, 

Her touch the unconscious blossoms blessed; 



154 KEVERIE 

The rose against her perfumed palm 
Leaned its soft cheek in blissful calm. 

I would have given my soul to be 
That rose she touched so tenderly ! 
I stood alone, outside the gate, 
And knew that life was desolate. 



REVERIE 

The white reflection of the sloop's great sail 

Sleeps trembling on the tide; 
In scarlet trim her crew lean o'er the rail, 

Lounging on either side. 

Pale blue and streaked with pearl the waters lie 

And glitter in the heat; 
The distance gathers purple bloom where sky 

And glimmering coast-line meet. 

From the cove's curving rim of sandy gray 

The ebbing tide has drained, 
Where, mournful, in the dusk of yesterday 

The curlew's voice complained. 

Half lost in hot mirage the sails afar 
Lie dreaming, still and white; 



REVERIE 155 

No wave breaks, no wind breathes, the peace to mar; 
Summer is at its height. 

How many thousand summers thus have shone 

Across the ocean waste. 
Passing in swift succession, one by one, 

By the fierce winter chased! 

The gray rocks blushing soft at dawn and eve, 

The green leaves at their feet, 
The dreaming sails, the crying birds that grieve, 

Ever themselves repeat. 

And yet how dear and how forever fair 

Is Nature's friendly face. 
And how forever new and sweet and rare 

Each old familiar grace! 

What matters it that she will sing and smile 

When we are dead and still ? 
Let us be happy in her beauty while 

Our hearts have power to thrill. 

Let us rejoice in every moment bright, 

Grateful that it is ours; 
Bask in her smiles with ever fresh delight, 

And gather all her flowers; 



156 heart's-ease 

For presently we part: what will avail 

Her rosy fires of dawn, 
Her noontide pomps, to us, who fade and fail, 

Our hands from hers withdrawn ? 



HEAET'S-EASE 

Southward still the sun is slanting day by day, 
Skies that brim with gold and azure slowly change; 

Beauty waxes cold and dim and cannot stay. 

Into tone and tint steals something ill and strange. 

Threat of evil finds its way to every ear, 

Lurks in light and shade and sounds in every 
breath; 
From the pathless snow-fields comes a warning drear, 
And the shuddering north-wind carries news of 
death. 

Stealthy step of Winter near and nearer draws: 
Locking earth beneath him, terrible with might, 

Strides he from the icy zone without a pause. 

Swift and sure and fierce, with ready hand to smite. 

Dearest, when without the door he threatening stands. 
Having rendered desolate the fair green earth. 

And sent her happy birds to sunnier lands. 

And choked with sullen snows her summer mirth, 



heart's-ease 157 

We shall sit together, you and I, once more, 

Warm and quiet, shut away from storm and cold; 

We shall smile to hear him blustering at the door, 
While the room glows with the firelight's ruddy 
gold. 

How safe my heart keeps every memory sweet, 
Holding still your picture, as you used to sit, 

Ever lovely, full of grace from head to feet, 

With that heap of snowy wool I watched you 
knit; 

With the lamplight falling on your cloudy hair — 
On the rich, loose bands of brown, so soft to touch; 

On the silken knot of rose you used to wear. 
On the thoughtful little face I love so much. 

You remember, when aloud I read to you. 

Sometimes silence intervened. You would not 
move. 

But in your radiant cheek the blushes grew, 

For you knew I paused to gaze at you, my love! 

Paused to realize my heaven, till with kind, 

Clear and questioning gray eyes you sought my face. 

What a look ! Its kindling glory struck me blind ; 
'T was a splendor that illumined all the plac^. 



158 AUTUMN 

What to us are Winter's blows and hate and wrath? 

And what matter that the green earth's bloom is 
fled? 
There has been immortal summer in our path 

All the happy, happy years since we were wed. 

AUTUMN 

Round and round the garden rushed a sudden blast, 
Crying, "Autumn! Autumn!" shuddering as it 



Dry poppy- head and larkspur-spike shrill whistled in 
the wind. 
Together whispering, "Autumn! and Winter is be- 
hind!" 

Tossed the sumach pennons, green and gold and red; 

Flapped the awning scallops loudly overhead; 
Swung the empty hammocks lightly to and fro; 

While the crickets simmered, chirruping below. 

Keen the star of evening hung glittering in the sky, 
Red the west was burning, deepening silently; 

Summer constellations slow wheeling out of sight, 
Great Orion shining clear upon the face of night. 

Sadly sang the ocean, sighing in the dark; 
Far away the lighthouse lit a sudden spark; 



SONG 159 

Black against the sunset sails wore gliding past; 

Earth and soa and sky wore saying, "Autumn 's hero 
at last I" 

Soon will snow be flying, soon will tempests roar, 

Soon the freezing north will lash us hitter as before ; 
I heard the waters whisper, I heard the winds com- 
plain. 
But sweet, reluctant Summer I knew would come 
again. 



SONG 

Love, art thou weary with the sultry day 1 
Fain would I be the cool and delicate air 

About the whiteness of thy brow to play. 
And softly, lightly stir thy cloudy hair. 

Upon thy head doth the fierce winter smite, 
And shudderest thou in darkness cold to hoi 

I would I were the coming of the light. 

Shelter, and radiant warmth to comfort thee. 

I would be fire and fragrance, light and air, 

All gracious things that serve thee at thy need; 

Music, to lift thy heart above all care; 

The wise and charming book that thou dost read. 



160 SUBMISSION 

There is no power that cheers and blesses thee 
But I do envy it, beneath the sun! 

Thy health, thy rest, thy refuge I would be ; 
Thy heaven on earth, thine every good in one. 



SUBMISSION 

The sparrow sits and sings, and sings; 

Softly the sunset's lingering light 
Lies rosy over rock and turf, 
And reddens where the restless surf 

Tosses on high its plumes of white. 

Gently and clear the sparrow sings. 
While twilight steals across the sea, 
And still and bright the evening-star 
Twinkles above the golden bar 
That in the west lies quietly. 

Oh, steadfastly the sparrow sings. 

And sweet the sound; and sweet the touch 
Of wooing winds; and sweet the sight 
Of happy Nature's deep delight 

In her fair spring, desired so much! 

But while so clear the sparrow sings 
A cry of death is in my ear; 



SUBMISSION 161 

The crashing of the riven wreck, 
Breakers that sweep the shuddering deck, 
And sounds of agony and fear. 

How is it that the birds can sing 1 
Life is so full of bitter pain ; 

Hearts are so wrung with hopeless grief; 

Woe is so long and joy so brief; 
Nor shall the lost return again. 

Though rapturously the sparrow sings, 
No bliss of Nature can restore 

The friends whose hands I clasped so warm, 
Sweet souls that through the night and storm 
Fled from the earth for evermore. 

Yet still the sparrow sits and sings, 

Till longing, mourning, sorrowing love. 

Groping to find what hope may be 

Within death's awful mystery, 
Eeaches its empty arms above; 

And listening, while the sparrow sings. 
And soft the evening shadows fall. 

Sees, through the crowding tears that blind, 
A little light, and seems to find 
And clasp God's hand, who wrought it all. 



162 SONG 



SONG 



I WORE your roses yesterday: 

About this light robe's folds of white, 
Wherein their gathered sweetness lay, 

Still clings their perfume of delight. 

And all in vain the warm wind sweeps 
These airy folds like vapor fine. 

Among them still the odor sleeps, 
And haunts me with a dream divine. 

So to my heart your memory clings. 
So sweet, so rich, so delicate; 

Eternal summer-time it brings. 
Defying all the storms of fate ; 

A power to turn the darkness bright. 
Till life with matchless beauty glows; 

Each moment touched with tender light, 
And every thought of you a rose ! 

SPKING AGAIN 

I STOOD on the height in the stillness 
And the planet's outline scanned. 

And half was drawn with the line of sea 
And half with the far blue land. 



SPRING AGAIN 163 

With wings that caught the sunshine 

In the crystal deeps of the sky, 
Like shapes of dreams, the gleaming gulls 

Went slowly floating by. 

Below me the boats in the harbor 

Lay still, with their white sails furled; 

Sighing away into silence, 

The breeze died off the world. 

On the weather-worn, ancient ledges 

Peaceful the calm light slept; 
And the chilly shadows, lengthening, 

Slow to the eastward crept. 

The snow still lay in the hollows, 

And where the salt waves met 
The iron rock, all ghastly white 

The thick ice glimmered yet. 

But the smile of the sun was kinder, 

The touch of the air was sweet; 
The pulse of the cruel ocean seemed 

Like a human heart to beat. 

Frost-locked, storm-beaten, and lonely, 
In the midst of the wintry main, 



164 SPRING AGAIN 

Our bleak rock yet the tidings heard: 
" There shall be spring again ! " 

Worth all the waiting and watching, 
The woe that the winter wrought, 

Was the passion of gratitude that shook 
My soul at the blissful thought! 

Soft rain and flowers and sunshine. 
Sweet winds and brooding skies, 

Quick-flitting birds to fill the air 
With clear, delicious cries; 

And the warm sea's mellow murmur 
Resounding day and night; 

A thousand shapes and tints and tones 
Of manifold delight, 

Nearer and ever nearer 

Drawing with every day ! 
But a little longer to wait and watch 

'Neath skies so cold and gray, 

And hushed is the roar of the bitter north 
Before the might of the Spring, 

And up the frozen slope of the world 
Climbs Summer, triumphing. 



SONNET 165 



SONNET 



As happy dwellers by the seaside hear 

In every pause the sea's mysterious sound, 
The infinite murmur, solemn and profound. 

Incessant, filling all the atmosphere, 

Even so I hear you, for you do surround 

My newly- waking life, and break for aye 
About the viewless shores, till they resound 

With echoes of God's greatness night and day. 

Eefreshed and glad I feel the full flood-tide 
Fill every inlet of my waiting soul; 
Long-striving, eager hope, beyond control, 

For help and strength at last is satisfied ; 
And you exalt me, like the sounding sea, 
With ceaseless whispers of eternity. 

SONG 

Above in her chamber her voice I hear 

Singing so clear; 
Among her flowers I stand and wait, 
Dreaming I lean on the garden gate. 

In joy and fear. 

Softly the light robes she doth wear 
Sweep down the stair; 



166 FOREBODING 

eager heart, less wildly beat, — 

1 shall behold her, stately, sweet, 

All good and fair ! 

Nearer, her voice! In a moment more 

Through the open door 
Come grace and beauty and all delight 
The round world holds to my dazzled sight, 

The threshold o'er! 

She holds me mute with her beaming eyes 

Full of bright surprise; 
Still grow the pulses her coming shook. 
In the gentle might of her golden look 

My heaven lies! 

FOEEBODIISra 

Cricket, why wilt thou crush me with thy cry ? 
How can such light sound weigh so heavily ! 
Behold the grass is sere, the cold dews fall. 
The world grows empty — yes, I know it all. 
The knell of joy I hear. 

Oh, long ago the swallows hence have flown. 
And sadly sings the sea in undertone; 
The wild vine crimsons o'er the rough gray stone; 
The stars of winter rise, the cool winds moan; 
Fast wanes the golden year. 



HOMAGE 167 

O cricket, cease thy sorrowful refrain 
This summer's glory comes not back again, 
But others wait with flowers and sun and rain; 
Why wakest thou this haunting sense of pain, 
Of loss, regret, and fear 1 

Clear sounds thy note above the waves' low sigh. 
Clear through the breathing wind that wanders by, 
Clear through the rustle of dry grasses tall ; 
Thou chantest, "Joy is dead! " I know it all. 
The winter's woe is near. 



HOMAGE 

Nay, comrade, 't is a weary path we tread 

Through this world's desert spaces, dull and dry, 

And long ago died out youth's morning-red. 
And low the sunset fires before us lie: 

And you are worn, though brave the face you wear. 

Forbear the deprecating gesture, take 
The honest admiration that I bear 

Your genius, and be mute, for friendship's sake. 

Up to your lips I lift a generous wine. 

Pure, perfumed, potent, living, sparkling bright; 
A deep cup, brimming with a draught divine ; 

Drink, then, and be refreshed with my delight. 



168 DISCONTENT 

It gladdens you ? You know the gift sincere ? 

You dreamed not life yet held a thing so sweet ? 
Nay, noble friend, your thanks I will not hear, 

But I shall cast my roses at your feet, 

And go my way rejoicing that 't is I 

Who recognize, acknowledge, judge you best, 

Proud that a star so steadfast lights the sky. 
And in the power of blessing you most blest. 

DISCONTENT 

There is no day so dark 
But through the murk some ray of hope may steal. 
Some blessed touch from Heaven that we might feel, 

If we but chose to mark. 

We shut the portals fast, 
And turn the key and let no sunshine in ; 
Yet to the worst despair that comes through sin 

God's light shall reach at last. 

We slight our daily joy. 
Make much of our vexations, thickly set 
Our path with thorns of discontent, and fret 

At our fine gold's alloy. 

Till bounteous Heaven might frown 
At such ingratitude, and, turning, lay 



DISCONTENT 169 

On our impatience burdens that would weigh 
Our aching shoulders down. 

We shed too many tears, 
And sigh too sore, and yiekl us up to woe, 
As if God had not planned the way we go 

And counted out our years. 

Can we not bo content, 
And lift our foreheads from the ignoble du.st 
Of these complaining lives, and wait with trust, 

Fulfilling Heaven's intent? 

Must we have wealth and power. 
Fame, beauty, all things ordered to our mind 
Nay, all these things leave happiness behind! 

Accept the sun and shower. 

The humble joys that bless, 
Appealing to indiflferent hearts and cold 
With delicate touch, striving to reach and hold 

Our hidden consciousness; 

And see how everywhere 
Love comforts, strengtliens, helps, and saves us all; 
What opi)ortunities of good befall 

To make life sweet and fair I 



170 ALREADY 



ALEEADY 



Already the dandelions 

Are changed into vanishing ghosts; 
Already the tall ripe grasses 

Are standing in serried hosts, 

Bowing with stately gesture 

Whenever the warm winds blow, 

Like the spear-heads of an army 
Charging against the foe. 

Already the nestling sparrows 
Are clothed in a mist of gray, 

And under the breast of the swallow 
The warm eggs stir to-day. 

Already the cricket is busy 
With hints of soberer days, 

And the goldenrod lights slowly 
Its torch for the autumn blaze. 

O brief, bright smile of summer! 

days divine and dear! 
The voices of winter's sorrow 

Already we can hear. 



GUESTS 171 

And we know that the frosts will find us, 

And the smiling skies grow rude, 
While we look in the face of Beauty, 

And worship her every mood. 

GUESTS 

Sunflower tall and hollyhock, that wave in the wind 
together, 
Cornflower, poppy, and marigold, blossoming fair 
and fine, 
Delicate sweet- peas, glowing bright in the quiet autumn 
weather. 
While over the fence, on fire with bloom, climbs 
the nasturtium vine ! 

Quaint little wilderness of flowers, straggling hither 
and thither — 
Morning-glories tangled about the larkspur gone to 
seed, 
Scarlet runners that burst all bounds, and wander, 
heaven knows whither, 
And lilac spikes of bergamot, as thick as any weed. 

And oh, the bees and the butterflies, the humming- 
birds and sparrows. 
That -over the garden waver and chirp and flutter 
the livelong day ! 



172 GUESTS 

Humming-birds, that dart in the sun like green and 
golden arrows, 
Butterflies like loosened flowers blown off by the 
wind in play. 

Look at the red nasturtium flower, drooping, bending, 
and swaying; 
Out the gold-banded humble-bee breaks and goes 
booming anew! 
Hark, what the sweet-voiced fledgeling sparrows low 
to themselves are saying, 
Pecking my golden oats where the cornflowers 
gleam so blue! 

Welcome, a thousand times welcome, ye dear and deli- 
cate neighbors — 
Bird and bee and butterfly, and humming-bird fairy 
fine! 
Proud am I to offer you a field for your graceful 
labors ; 
All the honey and all the seeds are yours in this 
garden of mine. 

I sit on the doorstep and watch you. Beyond lies 
the infinite ocean. 
Sparkling, shimmering, whispering, rocking itself to 
rest; 



MUTATION 173 

And the world is full of perfume and color and beauti- 
ful motion, 
And each new hour of this sweet day the happiest 
seems and best. 



MUTATIOJN 

About your window's happy height 
The roses wove their airy screen: 

More radiant than the blossoms bright 
Looked your fair face between. 

The glowing summer sunshine laid 
Its touch on field and flower and tree; 

But 'twas your golden smile that made 
The warmth that gladdened me. 

The summer withered from the land, 
The vision from the window passed: 

Blank Sorrow looked at mo; her hand 
Sought mine and clasped it fast. 

The bitter wind blows keen and drear. 
Stinging with winter's flouts and scorns, 

And where the roses breathed I hear 
The rattling of the thorns. 



174 FAREWELL 



FAREWELL 

The crimson sunset faded into gray; 

Upon the murnmrous sea the twilight fell; 
The last warm breath of the delicious day 
Passed with a mute farewell. 

Above my head, in the soft purple sky, 

A wild note sounded like a shrill-voiced bell; 
Three gulls met, wheeled, and parted with a cry 
That seemed to say, "Farewell!" 

I watched them: one sailed east, and one soared west. 

And one went floating south; while like a knell 
That mournful cry the empty sky possessed, 
"Farewell, farewell, farewell!" 

"Farewell!" I thought, it is the earth's one speech; 

All human voices the sad chorus swell; 
Though mighty Love to heaven's high gate may reach. 
Yet must he say, " Farewell ! " 

The rolling world is girdled with the sound. 

Perpetually breathed from all who dwell 
Upon its bosom, for no place is found 

Where is not heard, "Farewell!" 



DOUBT 175 

"Farewell, farewell!" — from wave to wave 'tis 
tossed, 
From wind to wind: earth has one tale to tell; 
All other sounds are dulled and drowned and lost 
In this one cry, "Farewell!" 



DOUBT 

The wild rose blooms for the sun of June, 

The tide ebbs slowly out; 
I hear in the dreamy afternoon 

The far-off fisher's shout. 

The sand lies gray and the sea leaps blue, 

The tide ebbs slowly out; 
O lover mine, who called to you, 

That you left me here to doubt ? 

The white gull's wing sweeps the whiter foam, 

The tide ebbs slowly out; 
'T is not your white sail, yearning home 

To put my fears to rout ! 

The rose may blush and the sun may shine. 

The tide ebbs slowly out; 
The world is good if you are mine, 

Ashes and dust without ! 



176 SUNSET SONG 



SUNSET SONG 

Far off against the solemn sky 

Black lie the city's towers; 
Before me rustles, dim and dry, 

My field of golden flowers. 

How thin the wind's cool whisper draws 
Through withered leaf and stalk! 

Is this the breeze that once would pause 
With blossoms bright to talk ? 

Dark lies the land in twilight sad, 
No bird sings in its bowers; 

Where is the glory once that clad 
My field of golden flowers ? 

The distant city rings its bells, 
Like memory's tender chime; 

sweet, sweet bells, ye speak farewells 
To life's enchanted prime! 

Dark lies the land in twilight cold. 
Gone are the sumptuous hours; 

The city sleeps, and shadows fold 
My field of golden flowers. 



LOVE SHALL SAVE US ALL." 177 



"LOVE SHALL SAVE US ALL" 

O PiLGBiM, comes the night so fast ? 

Let not the dark thy heart appall, 
Though loom the shadows vague and vast, 

For Love shall save us all. 

There is no hope but this to see 

Through tears that gather fast and fall; 

Too great to perish Love must be. 
And Love shall save us all. 

Have patience with our loss and pain. 
Our troubled space of days so small ; 

We shall not reach our arms in vain. 
For Love shall save us all. 

O Pilgrim, but a moment wait, 

And we shall hear our darlings call 

Beyond death's mute and awful gate, 
And Love shall save us all! 



THE CRUISE OF THE MYSTERY 

The children wandered up and down, 
Seeking for driftwood o'er the sand; 

The elder tugged at granny's gown. 
And pointed with his little hand. 



178 THE CRUISE OF THE MYSTERY 

"Look! look!" he cried, "at yonder ship 
That sails so fast and looms so tall ! " 
She turned, and let her basket slip, 
And all her gathered treasure fall. 

"Nay, granny, why are you so pale? 

Where is the ship we saw but now ? " 
" Oh, child, it was no mortal sail ! 

It came and went, I know not how. 

"But ill winds fill that canvas white 
That blow no good to you and me. 
Oh, woe for us who saw the sight 
That evil bodes to all who see ! " 

They pressed about her, all afraid: 

'* Oh, tell us, granny, what was she ? " 
"A ship's unhappy ghost," she said, 
"The awful ship, the Mystery." 

" But tell us, tell us ! " " Quiet be ! " 
She said. "Sit close and listen well, 
For what befell the Mystery 
It is a fearful thing to tell ! " 



She was a slave-ship long ago. 
Year after year across the sea 



THE CRUISE OF THE MYSTERY 179 

She made a trade of human woo, 
And carried freights of misery. 

One voyage, when from the tropic coast 
Laden with dusky forms she came, — 

A wretched and despairing host, — 

Beneath the fierce sun's breathless flame 

Sprang, like a wild lieast from its lair. 

The fury of the hurricane. 
And sent the great ship reeling bare 

Across the roaring ocean plain. 

Then terror seized the piteous crowd: 
With many an oath and cruel blow 

The captain drove them, shriciking loud. 
Into the pitch-black hold below. 

Shouting, "Make fast the hatchways tight! " 
He cursed them: "Let them live or die, 

They '11 trouble us no more to-night! " 
The crew obeyed him sullenly. 

Has hell such torment as they knew? 

Like herded cattle packed they lay, 
Till morning showed a streak of blue 

Breaking the sky's thick pall of gray. 



180 THE CRUISE OF THE MYSTERY 

"Off with the hatchways, men! " No sound! 
What sound should rise from out a grave 1 
The silence shook with dread profound 
The heart of every seaman brave. 

"Quick! Drag them up," the captain said, 
"And pitch the dead into the sea! " 
The sea was peopled with the dead, 
With wide eyes staring fearfully. 

From weltering wave to wave they tossed. 

Two hundred corpses, stiff and stark. 
At last were in the distance lost, 

A banquet for the wandering shark. 

Oh, sweetly the relenting day 

Changed, till the storm had left no trace, 
And the whole awful ocean lay 

As tranquil as an infant's face. 

Abaft the wind hauled fair and fine, 
Lightly the ship sped on her way ; 

Her sharp bows crushed the yielding brine 
Into a diamond dust of spray. 

But up and down the decks her crew 

Shook their rough heads, and eyed askance. 

With doubt and hate that ever grew. 
The captain's brutal countenance. 



THE CRUISE OF THE MYSTERY 181 

As slow he paced with frown as black 

As night. At last, with sudden shout, 
He turned. "'Bout ship! We will go back 
And fetch another cargo out ! " 

They put the ship about again; 

His will was law, they could not choose. 
They strove to change her course in vain: 

Down fell the wind, the sails hung loose. 

And from the far horizon dim 

An oily calm crept silently 
Over the sea from rim to rim; 

Still as if anchored fast lay she. 

The sun set red, the moon shone white, 

On idle canvas drooping drear; 
Through the vast, solemn hush of night 

What is it that the sailors hear? 

Now do they sleep — and do they dream 1 
Was that the wind's foreboding moan? 

From stem to stern her every beam 
Quivered with one unearthly groan! 

Leaped to his feet then every man, 
And shuddered, clinging to his mate; 

And sunburned cheeks grew pale and wan. 
Blanched with that thrill of terror great. 



182 THE CRUISE OF THE MYSTERY 

The captain waked, and angrily 

Sprang to the deck, and cursing spoke. 
"What devil's trick is this? " cried he. 
No answer the scared silence broke. 

But quietly the moonlight clear 

Sent o'er the waves its pallid glow: 

What stirred the water far and near, 
With stealthy motion swimming slow ? 

With measured strokes those swimmers dread 
From every side came gathering fast; 

The sea was peopled with the dead 
That to its cruel deeps were cast! 

And coiling, curling, crawling on. 

The phantom troop pressed nigh and nigher. 

And every dusky body shone 
Outlined in phosphorescent fire. 

They gained the ship, they climbed the shrouds. 
They swarmed from keel to topmast high; 

Now here, now there, like filmy clouds 
Without a sound they flickered by. 

And where the captain stood aghast. 
With hollow, mocking eyes they came, 



THE CRUISE OF THE MYSTERY 183 

And bound him fast unto the mast 

With ghostly ropes that bit like flame. 

Like maniacs shrieked the startled crew ! 

They loosed the boats, they leaped within; 
Before their oars the water flew; 

They pulled as if some race to win. 

With spectral light all gleaming bright 

The Mystery in the distance lay ; 
Away from that accursed sight 

They fled until the break of day. 

And they were rescued, but the ship, 

The awful ship, the Mystery, 
Her captain in the dead men's grip, — 

Never to any port came she; 

But up and down the roaring seas 

For ever and for aye she sails, 
In calm or storm, against the breeze, 

Unshaken by the wildest gales. 

And wheresoe'er her form appears 

Come trouble and disaster sore. 
And she has sailed a hundred years, 

And she will sail for evermore. 



184 SCHUMANN'S SONATA IN A MINOR 

SCHUMANN'S SONATA IN A MINOR 
(mit leidenschaftliciiem ausdruck) 

The quiet room, the flowers, the perfumed calm, 
The slender crystal vase, where all aflame 

The scarlet poppies stand erect and tall. 
Color that burns as if no frost could tame, 

The shaded lamplight glowing over all, 

The summer night a dream of warmth and balm. 

Outbreaks at once the golden melody, 

"With passionate expression!" Ah, from whence 
Comes the enchantment of this potent spell. 

This charm that takes us captive, soul and sense? 
The sacred power of music, who shall tell, 

Who find the secret of its mastery 1 

Lo, in the keen vibration of the air 
Pierced by the sweetness of the violin. 

Shaken by thrilling chords and searching notes 
That flood the ivory keys, the flowers begin 

To tremble; 'tis as if some spirit floats 
And breathes upon their beauty unaware. 

The stately poppies, proud in stillness, stand 
In silken splendor of superb attire: 



BECAUSE OF THEE 185 

Stricken with aiTows of melodious sound, 
Their loosened petals fall like Hakes of fire; 

"With waves of music overwhelmed and drowned, 
Solemnly drop their flames on either hand. 

So the rich moment dies, and what is left? 

Only a memory sweet, to shut between 
Some poem's silent leaves, to find again, 

Perhaps, when winter blasts are howling keen. 
And summer's loveliness is spoiled and slain. 

And all the world of light and bloom bereft. 

But winter cannot rob the music so! 

Nor time nor fate its subtle power destroy 
To bring again the summer's dear caress. 

To wake the heart to youth's unreasoning joy, — 
Sound, color, perfume, love, to warm and bless, 

And au's of balm from Paradise that blow. 



BECAUSE OF THEE 

My life has grown so dear to me 

Because of thee ! 
My maiden with the eyes demure. 
And quiet mouth, and forehead pure, 
Joy makes a summer in my heart 

Because thou art! 



186 FLOWERS FOE THE BE AVE 

The very winds melodious be 

Because of thee! 
The rose is sweeter for thy sake, 
The waves in softer music break, 
On brighter wings the swallows dart, 

Because thou art! 

My sky is swept of shadows free 

Because of thee! 
Sorrow and care have lost their sting, 
The blossoms glow, the linnets sing. 
All things in my delight have part, 

Because thou art! 



FLOWERS FOR THE BEAVE 
(decoration day, 1883) 

Here bring your purple and gold. 
Glory of color and scent; 

Scarlet of tulips bold. 

Buds blue as the firmament. 

Hushed is the sound of the fife 
And the bugle piping clear. 

The vivid and delicate life 

In the soul of the youthful year 



EXPOSTULATION 187 

We bring to the quiet dead, 

With a gentle and tempered grief: 

O'er the mounds so mute we shed 
The beauty of blossom and leaf. 

The flashing swords that were drawn, 
No rust shall their fame destroy ! 

Boughs rosy as rifts of dawn, 

Like the blush on the cheek of joy, 

Rich fires of the gardens and meads 

We kindle, these hearts above! 
What splendor can match their deeds? 

What sweetness can match our love? 



EXPOSTULATION 

Tears in those eyes of blue ! 
Sparks of fiery dew. 
Scornful lightnings that flash 
'Twixt dusky lash and lash! 
Never from sorrow grew 
That rain in my heaven of blue. 

Full of disdain are you. 
Scorn for these fetters new. 
Sweet, you were free too long! 



188 PERSISTENCE 

Love is a master strong, 
Hard are the words but true, 
None may his chain undo. 

Nay ! Let your heart shine through 
And soften those eyes of blue ! 
Glide from your chilly height, 
Banish your anger bright; 
Fairest, be gentlest, too, 
Fate is too mighty for you! 



PEESISTENCE 

Skeleton schooner, looming strange on the far hori- 
zon's rim, 

Wasted and blurred by the bitter cold, all ghastly and 
pallid and dim. 

Whither goest thou, stiiBf and stark? What harbor 
locked in the frost 

Steerest thou for, through the freezing spray by the 
hissing breakers tossed? 

Wherefore strivest thou, fighting still to plough thy 

perilous way 
Against the might of the fierce northwest so woefully, 

night and day ? 



PERSISTENCE 189 

Turn thee and spread thy wings so white, and fly to 

the tropic seas, 
Till the clogging ice that loads thee now dissolves in a 

torrid breeze; 

Till the blazing sun shall melt the tar in every rope 
and seam; 

Till thy frozen keel warm tides shall rock in a languid, 
lovely dream; 

Till thou liest lapped in perfumes sweet in some palm- 
girdled bay, 

Anchored in peace, to rest at last, for many a golden 
day. 

What cheer can be in thy dreadful toil, what hope in 

the raging deep ? 
What joy from out their troubled voyage can thy worn 

seamen reap? 
Loosen thy close-reefed canvas, then, fling wide thy 

pinions white, 
Leap the long billows, swiftly sail into the south 's 

delight! 

Steadfast she steers to the bitter north along the hori- 
zon's rim. 

Wasted and blurred by the cruel cold, dull, ghostly, 
and pallid, and dim; 



100 TOOK LISETTK 

For grand aro tlio will {iiid courage of man, and still 

sho must keep her course, 
And tliough ylio perish still must fight against nature's 

terrible force. 



S. E. 

She passes up and down life's various ways 

With noiseless footfall and with serious air; 
Within the circle of her quiet days 

She takes of sorrow and of joy lier .sliare. 
In her bright home, like some jjire jewel sot, 

The lustre of her beauty lives and glows, 
With all the fragrance of the violet. 

And all the radiant splendor of the rose. 
As Kim[)le and unconscious as a iU)wer, 

And crowned with womanhood's most subtle charm. 
She blesses her sweet realm with gentle power. 

And keeps her hearth-fires burning clear and warm. 
To know her is to love her. Every year 
Makes her more precious and more wise and dear. 

POOR LISICTTE 

Sadly the quails in the cornland pipe, 
Yellow the harvest is bending ripe, 
Gayly the children each other greet, 
Wandering down through the village street. 



POOIi IJKKTTK 191 

l^y li(U' garddu {^iiici I(<ii.iiM pooi* IjiM(il,l,(i. 
"Ilcir 1(>V(U'," ili(\y vvliiMjMir, "coiikim iiol, y«il'." 
SIm^ IooUh ufjir to i\w (i(l|.;(i ol (,lin tiky, 
Wli<ii«i MiKi Hiid iiiiMl.y l\\i\ iii(Hiiil.;iiiiM lio. 

Wluit Hiidddii (U',li<)(<H of liln luid dniiri 
Down tlio lotij^, dim, windiii}.; viilh^y c.oiiirl 
Oil, l»rin{^ tlicy iicvvh for Mi<^ poor liinol-l-o, 
liaptuni id l.iMt-, or a lif(/M rnj^^ml, ? 

Iligll V\U[/^ tll(^ hllfdn iioldM HO HW(i(it, 
Noardr Mio rliytliiiiic, l,r!i,iii|> of f(inl, — . 
What tumjxiHt riiHli(5H to claHp IjImciM/cs, 
Witli lipH HO warm n,nd witli (lyoH ho wot I 

She i.M H.'ifc, ill licr Iov«'r'H ariiiH iit lust; 
A dnsiry dni.im is tlin wr(itc,li(«.d piiHt ; 
Tlio miiHif of joy ill Ikm' }^Iiid IkiiiiI, j>I.'iyH, 
And iiioniing duvviiM in licr radi;uit f.-u^^: 

VVIiilo chnirly tlwi (piailn in tlio cornland l)ij)0, 
And nihiiit tlio luirvcHt in Ixindinj^' 'ilx'i 
And tlio (■liildrc.ii nlioiit to tlii*, life, und drum 
Tliat pain in ovor juid jmmkmj \h como. 



192 TO J. G. W. 

TO J. G. W. 

ON HIS SEVENTY-FIFTH BIRTHDAY 

What is there left, I wonder, 
To give thee on this glad day? 

Vainly I muse and ponder; 
What is there left to say? 

There is winter abroad, and snow. 
And winds that are chill and drear 

Over the sad earth blow, 

Like the sighs of the dying year. 

But the land thou lovest is warm 
At heart with the love of thee, 

And breaks into bloom and charm 
And fragrance, that thou mayest see, 

Violet, laurel, and rose, 

They are laid before thy feet, 

And the red rose deeper glows 
At a fate so proud and sweet. 

Gifts and greeting and blessing, 
Honor and praise, are thine; 

There 's naught left worth expressing 
By any word or sign I 



IN TUSCANY 193 

So, like the rest, I offer 

The gift all gifts above 
That heaven or earth can proffer, -^ 

Deep, gentle, grateful love. 



IN TUSCANY 

Down San Miniato in the afternoon 

Slowly we drove through still and golden air. 

'Twas winter, but the day was soft as June; 
Florence was spread beneath us, passing fair. 

The matchless city ! Set about with flowers, 
Peaceful along her Arno's banks she lay; 

Her treasured splendors, roofs and domes and towers, 
In tender light of the Italian day. 

Sweet breathed the roses, glowing far and wide. 
Pink, gold, and crimson; dark in stately gloom 

Stood the thick cypresses ; on every side 
The laurestinus, rich with creamy bloom. 

And exquisite, pale, sharp-leaved olives grew 
In moonlight colors, silver-green and gray. 

While, lifting their proud heads high in the blue. 
Sprang the superb stone-pines beside the way. 



194 IN TUSCANY 

Oh, wonderful, I thought, beyond compare ! 

And hushed with pleasure silent sat and gazed, 
When lo! a child's voice, and I grew aware 

Of loveliness that left me all amazed. 

A little beggar girl, that leaping came 

Forth from the roadside, reaching out her hand, 

And dancing like a bright and buoyant flame, 
Besought us in the music of her land. 

Her eyes were like a midnight full of stars 
Below the dazzling beauty of her brows. 

Her dusky hair dark as the cloud that bars 

The moon in troubled skies when tempests rouse; 

A mouth where lightning-sweet the sudden smile 
Came, went and came, and flashed into my face. 

And caught my heart, as, holding fast the while 
The carriage edge, she ran with rapid grace. 

Who could withstand her pleading, who resist 
The magic of those love-compelling eyes. 

Those lips the red pomegranate flowers had kissed, 
The voice that charmed like woven melodies ! 

Not we ! Surely, I thought, imperial blood. 
Some priceless current from a kingly line, 



GOOD-BY, SWEET DAY 195 

Ran royal in her veins, — a sunny flood 

That marked her with its fine, mysterious sign. 

She was not born to ask, but to command; 

She seemed to crown the wonder of the day, 
The perfect blossom of that glorious land, 

While her sweet " Grazie ! " followed on our way, 

As down 'mid olive, cypress, stately pine. 
Among the roses in a dream we passed. 

Through glamour of the time and place divine. 
Till Arno's quiet banks were reached at last. 

And pleasant rest. 'T is years since those fair hours. 
But their rich memories live, their sun and shade, 

Beautiful Florence set about with flowers. 
And San Miniato's peerless beggar maid. 



GOOD-BY, SWEET DAY 

FOR MUSIC 

GooD-BY, sweet day, good-by ! 
I have so loved thee, but I cannot hold thee. 
Departing like a dream, the shadows fold thee; 
Slowly thy perfect beauty fades away : 
Good-by, sweet day ! 



196 IN AUTUMN 

Good- by, sweet day, good- by ! 
Dear were thy golden hours of tranquil splendor, 
Sadly thou yieldest to the evening tender 
Who wert so fair from thy first morning ray; 
Good-by, sweet day ! 

Good- by, sweet day, good-by ! 

Thy glow and charm, thy smiles and tones and glances, 

Vanish at last, and solemn night advances; 

Ah, couldst thou yet a little longer stay ! 

Good-by, sweet day ! 

Good-by, sweet day, good-by ! 
All thy rich gifts my grateful heart remembers. 
The while I watch thy sunset's smouldering embers 
Die in the west beneath the twilight gray. 
Good-by, sweet day! 



IN AUTUMN 

The aster by the brook is dead, 

And quenched the goldenrod's brief fire; 
The maple's last red leaf is shed. 

And dumb the birds' sweet choir. 

'Tis life's November, too. How swift 
The narrowing days speed, one by one! 



WEST- WIND 197 

How pale the waning sunbeams sift 
Through clouds of gray and dun ! 

And as we lose our wistful hold 

On warmth and loveliness and youth, 

And shudder at the dark and cold, 
Our souls cry out for Truth. 

Ko more mirage, O Heavenly Powers, 
To mock our sight with shows so fair ! 

We question of the solemn hours 
That lead us swiftly — " Where ? " 

We hunger for our lost — in vain ! 

We lift our close-clasped hands above, 
And pray God's pity on our pain, 

And trust the Eternal Love. 



WEST-WIND 

The barley bows from the west 
Before the delicate breeze 

That many a sail caressed 

As it swept the sapphire seas. 

It has found the garden sweet. 
And the poppy's cup it sways; 



198 WEST-WIND 

Bends the golden ears of wheat; 
And its dreamy touch it lays 

On the heavy mignonette, 
Stealing soft its odors fine, 

On the pansies dewy yet, 
On the phloxes red as wine. 

Where the honeysuckle sweet 

Storms the sunny porch with flowers, 

Like a tempest of delight 

Shaking fragrance down in showers, 

It touches with airy grace 

Each clustering, perfumed spray, 

Clasps all in a light embrace. 
And silently wanders away. 

Come forth in the air divine. 

Thou dearest, my crown of bliss! 

Give that flower-sweet cheek of thine 
To the morning breeze to kiss. 

Add but thy perfect presence 
To gladden my happy eyes, 

And I would not change earth's morning 
For the dawns of Paradise ! 



IMPATIENCE 199 

IMPATIENCE 



E. L. 



Only to follow you, dearest, only to find you! 

Only to feel for one instant the touch of your hand; 
Only to tell you once of the love you left behind 
you, — 

To say the world without you is like a desert of 
sand; 

That the flowers have lost their perfume, the rose its 
splendor, 
And the charm of nature is lost in a dull eclipse; 
That joy went out with the glance of your eyes so 
tender. 
And beauty passed with the lovely smile on your 
lips. 

I did not dream it was you who kindled the morning 
And folded the evening purple in peace so sweet; 
But you took the whole world's rapture without a 
warning, 

And left me naught save the print of your patient 
feet. 

I count the days and the hours that hold us asunder: 
I long for Death's friendly hand which shall rend in 
twain. 



200 IN THE LANE 

With the glorious lightning flash and the golden thun- 
der, 
These clouds of the earth, and give me my own 
again ! 



IN THE LANE 

By cottage walls the lilacs blow; 

Rich spikes of perfume stand and sway 
At open casements, where all day 

The warm wind waves them to and fro. 

Out of the shadow of the door, 

Into the golden morning air. 

Comes one who makes the day more fair 
And summer sweeter than before. 

The apple blossoms might have shed 
Upon her cheek the bloom so rare; 
The sun has kissed her bright brown hair 

Braided about her graceful head. 

Lightly betwixt the lilacs tall 

She passes, through the garden gate, 
Across the road, and stays to wait 

A moment by the orchard wall; 



IN THE LANE 201 

And then in gracious light and shade, 

Beneath the blossom-laden trees, 

'Mid song of birds and hum of bees, 
She strays, unconscious, unafraid, 

Till swiftly o'er the grassy space 

Comes one whose step she fain would stay. 
Glad as the newly risen day 

He stoops to read her drooping face. 

Her face is like the morning skies. 

Bright, timid, tender, blushing sweet; 
She dares not trust her own to meet 

The steady splendor of his eyes. 

He holds her with resistless charm. 

With truth, with power, with beauty crowned; 

About her lovely shape is wound 
The strong, safe girdle of his arm. 

And up and down through shade and light 
They wander through the flying hours. 
And all the way is strewn with flowers, 

And life looks like one long delight. 

Ah, happy twain ! No frost shall harm, 
No change shall reach your bliss, so long 
As keeps its place the faithful, strong. 

Safe girdle of that folding arm. 



202 HER MIRROR 

Could you this simple secret know 
No death in life would be to fear, 
When you may watch, in some sad year, 

By cottage walls the lilacs blow ! 



HER MIEKOR 

MIRROR, whence her lovely face 
Was wont to look with radiance sweet, 

Hast thou not kept of her some trace, 
Some memory that thou mayest repeat? 

Could I but find in thee once more 
Some token of her presence dear! 

mirror, wilt thou not restore 
Her shadow for an instant here? 

Thou couldst not yield a boon so great. 

I see my own dim face and eyes 
With love and longing desolate, 

All drowned in wistful memories. 

Blindly for her dear hand I grope ; 

There 's nothing life can have in store 
So sweet to me as this sweet hope. 

To feel her smile on me once more! 



FDR CHRISTMAS 203 



FOR CHRISTMAS 

"Thy own wish wish I thee in every place." 

The Christmas joy, the song, the feast, the cheer, 

Thine be the light of love in every face 

That looks on thee, to bless thy coming year. 

Thy own wish wish I thee. What dost thou crave 1 
All thy dear hopes be thine, whate'er they be. 

A wish fulfilled may make thee king or slave; 
I wish thee Wisdom's eyes wherewith to see. 

Behold, she stands and waits, the youthful year! 

A breeze of morning breathes about her brows; 
She holds thy storm and sunshine, bliss and fear, 

Blossom and fruit upon the bending boughs. 

She brings thee gifts. What blessing wilt thou 
choose ? 
Life's crown of good in earth or heaven above, 
The one immortal joy thou canst not lose. 

Is Love! Leave all the rest, and choose thou 
Love! 



204 AT SET OF MOON 



AT SET OF MOON 

The wind blows from the stormy quarter and the 

moon is old. 
Trouble has gathered in the sky so pallid, dim, and 

cold. 
Can this be morning? Is the world so blank and out 

of tune 1 
Down yonder dim horizon something fades beside the 

moon. 

What is it? 'Tis the ghost of joy that made the 

earth so sweet; 
Life's one supreme, bright happiness, that hastes with 

flying feet. 
The fading »moon will brighten soon, in splendor shine 

again. 
But joy that was the life of life is merged in bitter 

pain. 

Last night I passed her window: she dreamed not I 

was near. 
One ray slipped through the jealous curtain, rosy- warm 

and clear; 
I kissed the flowers on which it fell, all dewy cold 

were they. 
With patient anguish in my heart I turned and stole 

away. 



MY GARDEN 205 

She will not miss me, will not know if I am here or 
there ; 

If I am dead, or if I live, will neither know nor care. 

Death is not bitter as my grief, which craves one sin- 
gle boon, — 

Release me, God ! let my life fade like yonder waning 
moon. 



MY GARDEN 

It blossomed by the summer sea, 
A tiny space of tangled bloom 
Wherein so many flowers found room, 

A miracle it seemed to be I 

Up from the ground, alert and bright, 
The pansies laughed in gold and jet, 
Purple and pied, and mignonette 

Breathed like a spirit of delight. 

Flaming the rich nasturtiums ran 
Along the fence, and marigolds 
" Opened afresh their starry folds ^^ 

In beauty as the day began; 

While ranks of scarlet poppies gay 

Waved when the soft south- wind did blow, 



206 MY GARDEN 

Superb in sunshine, to and fro, 
Like soldiers proud in brave array. 

And tall blue larkspur waved its spikes 
Against the sea's deep violet, 
That every breeze makes deeper yet 

With splendid azure where it strikes; 

And rosy-pale sweet-peas climbed up, 
And phloxes spread their colors fine, 
Pink, white, and purple, red as wine. 

And fire burned in the eschscholtzia's cup. 

More dear to me than words can tell 
Was every cup and spray and leaf; 
Too perfect for a life so brief 

Seemed every star and bud and bell. 

And many a maiden, fairer yet. 
Came smiling to my garden gay, 
Whose graceful head I decked alway 

With pansy and with mignonette. 

Such slender shapes of girlhood young 
Haunted that little blooming space, 
Each with a more delightful face 

Than any flower that ever sprung ! 



MY GARDEN 207 

shadowy shapes of youthful bloom ! 
How fair the sweet procession glides 
Down memory's swift and silent tides, 

Till lost in doubtful mists of gloom ! 

Year after year new flowers unfold, 
Year after year fresh maidens fair, 
Scenting their perfume on the air, 

Follow and find their red and gold. 

And while for them the poppies' blaze 
I gather, brightening into mine 
The eyes of vanished beauty shine, 

That gladdened long-lost summer days. 

Where are they all who wide have ranged? 

Where are the flowers of other years? 

What ear the wistful question hears? 
Ah, some are dead and all are changed. 

And still the constant earth renews 
Her treasured splendor; still unfold 
Petals of purple and of gold 

Beneath the sunshine and the dews. 

But for her human children dear 
Whom she has folded to her breast, 
No beauty wakes them from their rest, 

Nor change they with the changing year. 



208 LOST AND SAVED 



LOST AND SAVED 

"0 Love," he whispered low, "Eternal Love! " 
And softly twilight's shadows round them drew, 

And one by one the stars grew bright above, 
And warm airs from the gates of sunset blew. 

Swift o'er the summer sea they lightly sailed; 

The rushing winds, the rushing waves, sang sweet; 
But sweeter than all sounds the voice that failed, 

Shaken by the full heart that strongly beat. 

Fast piled the clouds in darkness south and east, 
Each other's starry eyes they only saw. 

What was the world to them ? The breeze increased, 
And caught the glimmering sail with gusty flaw. 

Low stooped the mast; the firm hand at the helm 
Held bravely yet the light craft to its course, 

Though hurrying breakers fain would overwhelm. 
And the gale gathered with resistless force. 

Black night, black storm, that rose in sudden wrath ! 

All lost the cheerful stars forgot to burn. 
And death was waiting silent in the path, 

Along whose wavering way was no return. 



A ROSE OF JOY 209 

Or life or death — what niatt(;ro(l it to thorn? 

Locked nmto and still within each other's arms, 
They sought no more the temj)est's rage to stem, 

Deaf to the tumult of the night's alarms. 

Beyond their fate uplifted, death was naught, 
Nor could they know, borne safe all pain above, 

Into immortal life together caught, 

That only thus should live Eternal Love ! 



A ROSE OF JOY 

FOR A BETROTHAL 

As when one wears a fragrant rose 
Close to the heart, a rose most fair, 

And while the day's life onward Hows 
Forgets that it is fastened there. 

And wonders what delicious charm 
Dwells in the air about, and wluuice 

Come the rich wafts of perfume warm 
Subtly saluting soul and sense; 

And then, remembering what it is, 
Bends smiling eyes the flower above, 

Adores its beauty and its bliss 

And looks on it with grateful love — 



210 IN SEPTEMBER 

Even so I wear, friend of mine, 

The sweet thought of your happiness; 

The knowledge of your joy divine 
Is fragrant with a power to bless. 

With the day's work preoccupied 
Vaguely, half conscious of delight. 

Upborne as on a buoyant tide, 

I wonder why life seems so bright. 

Then memory speaks; then winter gray 
And age and cares that have no end 

Touch me no more. I am to-day 

Eich in the wealth that cheers my friend. 

m SEPTEMBER 

Leaping from the boat, through the lazy, sparkling 

surf. 
Up the slope we press, o'er the rich, elastic turf. 
Heavy waves the goldenrod in the morning breeze, 
Swift spring the startled grasshoppers, thick about our 



Look, how shines the distance! Leagues of water 

blue, 
Wind-swept, sunshine-flooded, with a flying sail or 

two, 



IN SEPTEMBER 211 

Gleaming white as silver, and dreaming, here and 

there, 
A snowy-breasted gull floats in the golden air. 

How sweet to climb together the scented, flowery 
slope, 

dearest, hand in hand, like children following hope; 
Laughing at the grasshoppers, singing with delight, 
Only to be alive this September morning bright! 

But where would be the beauty of this brilliant atmos- 
phere 

Wert thou away, my darling? Would not the sky be 
drear. 

And gray the living azure of the changing, sparkling 
sea? 

And blossoms, birds, and sails, and clouds — what 
would they be to me ? 

Best we here a little upon the breezy height, 

And watch the play of color, the shadow, and the 

light, 
And let the lovely moment overflow us with its bliss. 
When shall we find, another so beautiful as this? 

1 turn from all the splendor to those clear eyes of 

thine, 
That watch the shimmering sails on the far horizon 
line; 



212 UNDEPv THE EAVES 

While Sim and wind salute thy chook till rosea hloa- 

som there, 
Thou golden creature, than the morn a thousand times 

more fair! 

Ah! must it end? Must winter hurl its snow across 
the sea, 

And roar with leagues of bitterness between thy face 
and me? 

Must chill December fill with murk and storm this 
wooing air, 

And the west-wind wail like the voice of some su- 
preme despair? 

Too surely ! But, O friendly eyes, hold summer safe 
for me; 

Only, O gentle heart, keep warm and sw(i(^t my mem- 
ory; 

And no fury of the tempest my world can desolate — 

This wingbd joy will lift my soul above the storms of 
fate. 

UNDER THE EAVES 

Pleasant above the city's din 
My quiet room beneath the eaves; 

The first to see the day begin, 

The last the sunshine lingering leaves. 



UNDER THE EyVVKS 213 

Pleasant upon the window pane 

Uplifted high, so near the sky, 
To hoar tho patter of tlio rain. 

Or see the snow go swirling l)y; 

To watcli the gildcul weathereocka 

In every eddy turn and wheel; 
To hoar the clear, melodious shocks 

Of chiming bolls that clang and peal. 

])()ve-liaunted roofs and towers and spires, 

The friendly faces of the clocks, 
The network of electric wires. 

The sparrows gossiping in Hocks, 

■The smoke's dim, ragged phantoms soft 
From myriad chimneys lightly curled, 

That mingle with the clouds aloft 

Slow sailing with the sailing world — 

Pleasant and peaceful all. Moat sweet 
When morning and when evening lires, 

Silent above the busy street, 

Touch the dove-haunted roofs and spires. 

Neighbored by sparrow and by dove, 

A coinradci of the weathercocks. 
My quiet, airy jx^rch I love. 

The chimney-stacks, the city clocks; 



214 NOVEMBER MORNING 

And thank the heavens that bend above 
For leave to find such deep delight 

In tower and spire and fluttering dove, 
Color and cloud and sparrow's flight. 



NOVEMBER MORNING 

With clamor the wild southwester 
Through the wide heaven is roaring, 

Ploughing the ocean, and over 
The earth its fury outpouring. 

Lo, how the vast gray spaces 
Wrestle and roll and thunder, 

Billow piled upon billow, 
Closing and tearing asunder, 

As if the deep raged with the anger 
Of hosts of the fabulous kraken ! 

And the firm house shudders and trembles, 
Beaten, buffeted, shaken. 

Battles the gull with the tempest. 

Struggling and wavering and faltering. 

Soaring and striving and sinking. 
Turning, its high course altering. 



NOVEMBER MORNING 215 

Down through the cloudy heaven 

Notes from the wild geese are falling; 

Cries like harsh bell-tones are ringing, 
Echoing, clanging, and calling. 

Plunges the schooner landward, 

Swiftly the long seas crossing. 
Close-reefed, seeking the harhor. 

Half lost in the spray she is tossing. 

A rift in the roof of vapor! 

And stormy sunshine is streaming 
To color the gray, wild water 

Like chrysoprase, green and gleaming. 

Cold and tempestuous ocean, 

Ragged rock, brine-swept and lonely. 

Grasp of the long, bitter winter — 
These things to gladden me only ! 



Love, dost thou wait for me in some rich land 
Where the gold orange hangs in odorous calm? 

Where the clear waters kiss the flowery strand. 
Bordered with shining sand and groves of palm? 

And while this bitter morning breaks for me, 
Draws to its close thy warm, delicious day; 



216 NOVEMBER MORNING 

Lights, colors, perfumes, music, joy, for thee, 
For me the cold, wild sea, the cloudy gray I 

Kises the red moon in thy tranquil sky. 
Plashes the fountain with its silver talk, 

And as the evening wind begins to sigh. 

Thy sweet girl's shape steals down the garden walk. 

And through the scented dusk a white robe gleams. 
Lingering beneath the starry jasmine sprays, 

Till where thy clustered roses breathe in dreams, 
A sudden gush of song thy light step stays. 

That was the nightingale ! Love of mine, 
Hear'st thou my voice in that pathetic song. 

Throbbing in passionate cadences divine. 
Sinking to silence with its rapture strong? 

I stretch my arms to thee through all the cold. 
Through all the dark, across the weary space 

Between us, and thy slender form I fold. 
And gaze into the wonder of thy face. 

Pure brow the moonbeam touches, tender eyes 
Splendid with feeling, delicate smiling mouth, 

And heavy silken hair that darkly lies 

Soft as the twilight clouds in thy sweet South, — 



IN death's despite 217 

beautiful my Love ! In vain I seek 

To hold the heavenly dream that fades from me. 

1 needs must wake with salt spray on my cheek, 

Flung from the fury of this northern sea. 

IN DEATH'S DESPITE 

Whither departs the perfume of the rose? 

Into what life dies music's golden sound? 
Year after year life's long procession goes 

To hide itself beneath the senseless ground. 
Upon the grave's inexorable brink 

Amazed with loss the human creature stands; 
Vainly he strives to reason or to think, 

Left with his aching heart and empty hands; 
He calls his lost in vain. In sorrow drowned. 
Darkness and silence all his sense confound. 

Till in Death's roll-call stern he hears his name. 

In turn he follows and is lost to sight; 
Though comforted by love and crowned by fame, 

He hears the summons dread no man may slight. 
Sweetly and clear upon his quiet grave 

The birds shall sing, unmindful of his dust; 
Softly in turn the long green grass shall wave 

Over his fallen head. In turn he must 
Submit to be forgotten, like the rest. 
Though high the heart that beat within his breast. 



218 A SONG OF HOPE 

The rose falls and the music's sound is gone; 

Dear voices cease, and clasp of loving hands; 
Alone we stand when the brief day is done, 

Searching with saddened eyes earth's darkening 
lands. 
Worthless as is the lightest fallen leaf 

We seem, yet constant as the night's first star 
Kindles our deathless hope, and from our grief 

Is born the trust no misery can mar. 
That Love shall lift us all despair above, 
Shall conquer death, — yea. Love, and only Love I 



A SONG OF HOPE 

The morning breaks, the storm is past. Behold! 

Along the west the lift grows bright, — the sea 
Leaps sparkling blue to catch the sunshine's gold, 

And swift before the breeze the vapors flee. 

Light cloud-flocks white that troop in joyful haste 
Up and across the pure and tender sky; 

Light laughing waves that dimple all the waste 
And break upon the rocks and hurry by ! 

Flying of sails, of clouds, a tumult sweet, 

Wet, tossing buoys, a warm wild wind that blows 



OUR SOLDIERS 219 

The pennon out and rushes on to greet 

Thy lovely cheek and heighten its soft rose ! 

Beloved, beloved ! Is there no morning breeze 
To clear our sky and chase our mists away, 

Like this great air that sweeps the freshening seas. 
And wakes the old sad world to glad new day ? 

Sweeter than morning, stronger than the gale. 
Deeper than ocean, warmer than the sun, 

My love shall climb, shall claim thee, shall prevail 
Against eternal darkness, dearest one! 

OUK SOLDIERS 

Peace smiles over hamlet and city. 

Peace broods over mountain and stream, 
Our tears of anguish and pity 

Are a half- forgotten dream. 
The tempest of battle is ended. 

And our dear, delivered land 
Stands free in the sunshine splendid, 

No stain upon her hand. 

What shall we do to honor 

Her dauntless sons to-day, 
Who shed such glory upon her, 

Striking her chains away? 



220 TWO 

Fair floats the banner o'er her, — 
What did not her children give ? 

They cast their lives before her, 
Dying that she might live. 

Remember them, praise them, love them, 

The noble hearts and brave! 
May earth lie lightly above them 

In many a nameless grave. 
Great was their high endeavor. 

Great is their glorious meed; 
Honor our heroes forever, 

Praise them with word and deed! 

TWO 

She turned the letter's rustling page; her smile 
Made bright the air about her while she read: 

" I come to you to-morrow, love ; meanwhile 
Love me, my sweet," he said. 

"What other business has my life? " she thought, 
And musing passed, as in some happy dream. 

To the day's care and toils, and while she wrought 
Time winged with light did seem. 

To-morrow ! When the summer morning broke 
In rose and gold, and touched her slumbering eyes 



TWO 221 

Softly, with tempered splendor, and she woke 
To the rich dawn's surprise. 

Birds sang aloft and roses bloomed below; 

Flushed wide the tender fleecy mists above ; 
Came Memory, leading Hope, and whispered low, 

"Love me! I come, my love." 

"So that thou comest," she thought, "skies may grow 
gray. 

The sun may fade, the sea with foam blanch white, 
Tempest and thunder dread may spoil the day, 

But not my deep delight." 

O sweet and awful Love ! power supreme. 

Mighty and sacred, terrible art thou! 
Beside thee Life and Death are but a dream; 

Before thee all must bow. 

When in the west the sunset's crimson flame 

Burned low and wasted, and the cool winds blew. 

Watching the steadfast sky she heard her name 
Breathed in the voice she knew. 

Joy shook her heart, nor would its pulse be stilled; 

Her fair cheek borrowed swift the sunset's bloom. 
A presence beautiful and stately filled 

The silence of the room. 



222 COMPENSATION 

"Hast thou no word of welcome? " for indeed 
Like some mute marble goddess proud stood she; 

She turned. "0 king of men!" she cried, "what 
need 
That I should welcome thee ? " 

Her eyes divine beneath her solemn brows 

Met his clear gaze and measured strength for 
strength. 

She drooped, as to the sun the lily bows, 
Into his arms at length. 

Wide swung heaven's gates for them; no more they 
knew. 

The silent stars looked in, they saw them not. 
The slow winds wandered soft through dusk and dew, 

But earth was all forgot. 

COMPENSATION 

In that new world toward which our feet are set, 
Shall we find aught to make our hearts forget 
Earth's homely joys and her bright hours of bliss? 
Has heaven a spell divine enough for this ? 
For who the pleasure of the spring shall tell. 
When on the leafless stalk the brown buds swell. 
When the grass brightens and the days grow long, 
And little birds break out in rippling song ? 



COMPENSATION 223 

Oh sweet the dropping eve, the bkish of morn, 
The starlit sky, the rustling fields of corn. 
The soft airs blowing from the freshening seas, 
The sun-flecked shadow of the stately trees. 
The mellow thunder and the lulling rain, 
The warm, delicious, happy summer rain. 
When the grass brightens and the days grow long, 
And little birds break out in rippling song! 

O beauty manifold, from morn till night. 

Dawn's flush, noon's blaze, and sunset's tender light! 

O fair, familiar features, changes sweet 

Of her revolving seasons, storm and sleet 

And golden calm, as slow she wheels through space 

From snow to roses, — and how dear her face 

When the grass brightens and the days grow long. 

And little birds break out in rippling song! 

O happy Earth ! home so well beloved ! 
What recompense have wo, from thee removed? 
One hope we have that overtops the whole, — 
The hope of finding every vanished soul 
We love and long for daily, and for this 
Gladly we turn from thee and all thy bliss. 
Even at thy loveliest, when the days are long, 
And little birds break out in rippling song. 



224 JOY 



SONNET 

Back from life's coasts the ebbing tide had drawn, 

The singing tide that brimmed with joy the shore: 
The torch of sunset and the blush of dawn 

Seemed to have lost their glow forevermore, 
There was such silence in the empty sky! 

And Nature mocked me, grown so cold and dumb, 
And Faith, I thought, had perished utterly, 

Nor knew I whence a ray of hope should come ; 
When, like a royal messenger of good 

Sent to some sad and famine-stricken land, 
Across my threshold dark you passed, and stood. 

Bearing the keys of heaven in your hand; 
And wide the bright, resounding gates you threw ! 
Tell me, friend, what I shall do for you ! 



JOY 

Joy breathes in the sweet airs of spring, 
And in the shy wild blossom hides. 

And soars upon the swallow's wing. 
And with the singing water glides. 

Where lilies stand, a fragrant crowd. 

Rocked by the warm south wind he lies; 



BELOVED 225 

And dreams upon the balmy cloud 
Soft floating in the tender skies; 

Shines clear from out the crescent sharp, 

Glittering above the sunset's red, 
And of the west wind makes a harp, 

And gleams in starlight overhead. 

Joy mantles in the golden wine, 

Joy to earth's humblest doth descend, 

And looks at me with cheer divine 
From out the dear eyes of my friend. 



BELOVED 

A STRONG sweet tide toward the lonely shore 

Sets steadfastly, till every inlet sings. 
And to the waiting silence, blank before. 
Its full refreshment brings. 

Through the day's business passing to and fro, 
Ever she grows more conscious of the charm 
Upholding her wherever she may go, 
Like some enfolding arm. 

For this dear joy all days more fair do seem. 
The night's repose more blissful and more deep, 



226 THE ANSWER 

As pillowed on the breast of this sweet dream 
Softly she falls asleep. 

Safe is she, lifted all earth's ills above; 

No storm can break her calm, no evil reach 
Within the charmed circle drawn by Love, 
Blest beyond thought or speech. 

maiden, dream thy dream! Life's crown of thorns, 

Draws it not down, unseen, about thy brows ? 
The glory of thy summer eves and morns 
Stern winter shall espouse. 

Within this Eden of thy sweet content 

No mortal stays, — that, the great gods forbid; 
But canst thou learn that in thy banishment 
A higher good lies hid ? 



THE ANSWER 

The blossoms blush on the bough. 
And the air is full of song, 

Oh give me my answer now, 
Dear Love, I have waited long! 

The blossoms mantle and flush, — 
I see but the rose in your cheek, 



SONG 227 

And the birds their music hush, 
For the fate your lips may speak. 

I listen for life or death, 

With hope's deep rapture stirred, 

And faint as the blossoms' breath 
Comes your low, delicious word. 

And the earth reels under my feet, — 
O blossoms that burn on the bough I ^ 

With the strength of a joy so sweet, 
For I have my answer now! 



SONG 

Past the point and by the beach. 
Oh but the waves ran merrily. 

With laughter light and silver speech. 
And red the sunset flushed the sea. 

Two lovers wandered side by side, — 
Oh but the waves ran merrily; 

They watched the rushing of the tide, 
And fairer than a dream was she. 

About her slender waist was cast — 
Oh but the waves ran merrily — 



228 AUGUST 

His strong right arm that held her fast, 
A zone that clasped her royally. 

He gazed in her bewildering face, — 
Oh but the waves ran merrily : 
"See how the waves each other chase! 
So follow all my thoughts to thee.'* 

"And seest thou yonder star? " she said,— 
Oh but the waves ran merrily, — 

" Superb in yonder evening-red ? 

So dost thou light my life for me ! " 

'Twas long ago that star did shine, — 

Oh but the waves ran merrily; 
Love made for them the world divine 

In that old time beside the sea. 

The soft wind sighs, the great sea rolls, — 

Oh but the waves run merrily; 
What has Time done with those two souls ? 

And Love, who charmed them, where is he ? 



AUGUST 

Buttercup nodded and said good-by, 
Clover and daisy went off together. 

But the fragrant water-lilies lie 

Yet moored in the golden August weather. 



SONG 229 

Tho swallows chatter about thoir flight, 
The cricket cliirpa like a rare good follow, 

The asters twinkle in clusters bright. 

While the corn grows rip© and the apples mellow. 



SONG- 

A BIRD upon a rosy bough 

Sang low and long, sang late and loud, 
Until the young moon's silver prow 

Was lost behind a bar of cloud. 

The south wind paused and hold its breath - 
Sing loud and late, sing low and long — 

While sweet as Love and sad as Death 
The matchless notes rose wild and strong. 

They rang with rapture, loss and change, — 
Sing low and late, sing long and loud — 

A tumult passionate and strange, 

A speechless grief, a patience proud; 

Till with "farewell for evermore," — 

Sing late and loud, sing low and long, — 

Like waves that kiss a barren shore 
In sobbing cadence died the song. 



230 "OH TELL ME NOT OF HEAVENLY HALLS ' 



"OH TELL ME NOT OF HEAVENLY HALLS" 

Oh tell me not of heavenly halls, 
Of streets of pearl and gates of gold, 

Where angel unto angel calls 

'Mid splendors of the sky untold; 

My homesick heart would backward turn 
To find this dear, familiar earth. 

To watch its sacred hearth-fires burn, 
To catch its songs of joy or mirth. 

I 'd lean from out the heavenly choir 
To hear once more the red cock crow, 

What time the morning's rosy fire 
O'er hill and field began to glow. 

To hear the ripple of the rain, 

The summer waves at ocean's brim. 

To hear the sparrow sing again 
I 'd quit the wide-eyed cherubim! 

I care not what heaven's glories are; 

Content am I. More joy it brings 
To watch the dandelion's star 

Than mystic Saturn's golden rings. 



MIDSUMMER 231 

And yet — and yet, dearest one ! 

My comfort from life's earliest breath — 
To follow thee where thou art gone 

Through those dim, awful gates of Death, 

To find thee, feel thy smile again, 

To have eternity's long day 
To tell my grateful love, — why, then. 

Both heaven and earth might pass away ! 



MIDSUMMEE 

White as a blossom is the kerchief quaint 
Over her sumptuous shoulders lightly laid; 

Fairer than any picture men could paint. 

In the cool orchard's fragrant light and shade 

She stands and waits: some pensive dream enfolds 
Her beauty sweet, and bows her radiant head; 

The delicate pale roses that she holds 

Seem to have borrowed of her cheek their red. 

She waits like some superb but drooping flower 
To feel the touch of morning and the sun, 

And o'er her head the glowing petals shower, 
And to her feet the shifting sunbeams run. 



232 NEW YEAR SONG 

I follow to her feet their pathway fine, 

And while my voice the charmed silence breaks, 

What startled splendors from her deep eyes shine ! 
Into what glory my rich flower awakes! 

NEW YEAE SONG 

Sorrow, go thy way and leave me ! 

Weary am I of thee, thou Sorrow old. 
Unclasp thy hand from mine and cease to grieve me, 

Fade like the winter sunset dim and cold. 

Depart, and trouble me no longer ! 

Die ! Vanish with forgotten yesterdays. 
Eastward the darkness melts, the light grows stronger, 

And dawn breaks sweet across the shrouding haze. 

Die and depart. Old Year, old Sorrow ! 

Welcome, O morning air of health and strength ! 
glad New Year, bring us new hope to-morrow, 

With blossom, leaf, and fruitage bright at length. 



CAPTURED 

Nanette ! 

Can you not teach me to forget? 

It is so hard to understand ! 

You would not lift your slender hand 



CAPTURED 233 

To keep me yours, yet must I be 

Yours only, yours eternally. 

Though 'neath the chain I strive and fret, 

Nanette ! 

That golden hour when first wc mot, 

Like the swift inundating sea 

Love's tide swept in and conquered me. 

Love uttered Love's supremest word, 

A moment you were touched and stirred; 

Ah, that 's the anguish of regret, 

Nanette ! 

My every thought on you was set; 

I poured for you Love's priceless wine, 

You could no more its power divine 

Than one small blossom's cup of gold 

The boundless firmament could hold: 

My eyes with scornful tears are wet, 

Nanette ! 

This withered spray of mignonette 

You gave me, from my heart I take, 

This sick, sad heart you taught to ache, 

And fling it in the restless sea — 

I would my thought of you could be 

So flung away from me; and yet, 

Nanette ! 

I cannot break the cruel net, 

Though I may curse my fate and swear 

You are not kind, nor good, nor fair. 



234 FAITH 

You '11 hold me by one silken tress, 
Or eyelid's down-dropped loveliness, 
A touch of hand, or tone of voice, 
Or smile that all my will destroys : 
Ah Heaven ! the only boon I crave 
Is rest, the silence of the grave. 
Eelease me ! Teach me to forget, 
Nanette ! 



FAITH 

Fain would I hold my lamp of life aloft 

Like yonder tower built high above the reef; 

Steadfast, though tempests rave or winds blow soft, 
Clear, though the sky dissolve in tears of grief. 

For darkness passes, storms shall not abide: 

A little patience and the fog is past. 
After the sorrow of the ebbing tide 

The singing flood returns in joy at last. 

The night is long and pain weighs heavily. 
But God will hold his world above despair. 

Look to the East, where up the lucid sky 

The morning climbs! The day shall yet be fair! 



AT DAWN 235 



AT DAWN 



Early this morning waking, 
I heard the sandpipers call, 

And the sea on the shore was breaking 
With a dreamy rise and fall. 

The dawn that was softly blushing 
Touched cloud and wave with rose, 

And the sails in the west were flushing, 
No breeze stirred their repose. 

What tone in the water's falling 
Had reached me while I dreamed ? 

What sound in the wild birds' calling 
Like a heavenly greeting seemed ? 

What meant the delicate splendor 
That brightened the conscious morn 

With a radiance fresh and tender 
Crowning the day newborn ? 

All nature's musical voices 
Whispered, "Awake and see! 

Awake, for the day rejoices ! " 
What news had the morn for me ? 



280 IN A HORSE-CAR 

Then I romcmberod the blessing 
So swoot, O friend, so near I 

The joy beyond all expressing, — 
To-day you would be here. 



IN A HOKSl^CAR 

I WONDERED wliut pOWCF pOSSCSRcd tho plaCO 

As I took my seat in the motley crowd, 
And glancing swiftly from face to face 

Of the poor and mean, and the rich and proud, 

And all the stages betwixt the two 

That daily travel the iron track, 
I stopped at a young face frcsli as dow, 

I'ramod in white with a hood of black. 

'T was a little Sister of Charity ; 

Oh young and slender, oh sweet and calm I 
Like a pensive moonbeam ])alo was she. 

With her fair hands folded palm to palm. 

And a delicate beauty of higli r('j)()s(^, 
A sacred peace, as if far wiilidrawn 

From the hard world's din, like a cloistered rose, 
She blossomed pure as the breath of dawn. 



IN A HOKSK-CAlt 287 

I marvolod iimch how a girl liko tliia 

III lier Miiytiino 8[)londor could turn away 

From iho brimming cup of her youth's bright bliss, 
To succor tho sorrowful day by day. 

And y(3t when I looked at hor onco more, 
With her lofty aspect of tempered cheer, 

All the joys oi the eartli soomod vain and poor 
To the lovely record written here. 

And 1 felt how true it is, how sure 

That every good deed adds a light 
To the human face, not there before, 

While every ill thing leaves its blight. 

It does not follow that women and men 
Must live in a cloister to work for God; 

There 's enough to do, to the dullest ken. 

In the groat world's paths spread wide abroad. 

And th(^ good or ill of the life we lead 
Is sculptured clear on the countenance; 

15e it love and goodness, or sin and greed, 
Who runs may read at a single glance. 



238 A VALENTINE 



A VALENTINE 



What is the whole world worth, Dear, 
Weighed against love and truth ? 

Sweet is the spring to the earth, Dear, 
Bright is the blossom of youth: 

And the skies of summer are tender 
In fullness of life and strength, 

And rich is the autumn splendor, 
But winter comes at length. 

Tell me, what spell shall charm us 
When the golden days expire ? 

What is there left to warm us 
Save Love's most sacred lire ? 

While on the soul's high altar 
Its clear light burns secure, 

Though the step of joy may falter, 
And the glad years are no more, 

The frosts of ago are naught, Dear! 

I clasp thy hand in mine 
Fondly as when youth sought, Deai^ 

To be thy Valentine. 



WITHIN AND WITHOUT 239 



WITHIN AND WITHOUT 

The tide flows up, the tide flows down: 
The water brims the creek and falls ; 
A cottage weather-stained and brown 
Lifts at the brink its time-worn walls. 

Beneath the lowly window sill 
Two little beds of blossoms gay 
The wandering airs with fragrance fill, 
Sweeten the night and charm the day. 

The tide flows up, the tide flows down: 
From the low window's humble square 
A woman in a faded gown, 
With care-dimmed eyes and tangled hair, 

Looks out across the smiling space 
Where golden suns and stars unfold: 
Blue larkspur, the pied pansy's face, 
Nasturtium bells of scarlet bold, — 

She sees them not, nor cares, nor knows. 
A man's rough figure noon and night 
And morning o'er the threshold goes, — 
No sense has he for their delight. 



240 BETROTHED 

The tide flows up, the tide flows down: 
In that dull house a little maid 
Lives lonely, under Fortune's frown, 
A life unchildlike and afraid. 

To her that tiny garden-plot 

Means heaven. She comes at eve to stand 

'Mid mallow and forget-me-not 

And marigolds on either hand. 

They look at her with brilliant eyes, 
Their scent is greeting and caress; 
They spread their rich and glowing dyes 
Her saddened soul to cheer and bless. 

The tide flows up, the tide flows down: 
Within, how base the life and poor! 
Without, what wealth and beauty crown 
The humble flowers beside the door ! 



BETEOTHED 

Softly the flickering firelight comes and goes; 

The warm glow flashes, sinks, departs, returns, 
And shows me where the delicate red rose 

In the tall, slender vase of crystal burns. 



BETROTHED 241 

The tempest beats without. The hush within 
Is sweeter for the turmoil of the night; 

Ice clatters at the pane and snowflakes spin 
A web of woven storm, a shroud of white. 

Its secret the wild winter weather keeps, 

No sound transpires except the tempest's breath; 

Locked in the frost the muffled pathway sleeps, 
For any human token still as death. 

My eyes the room's familiar aspect hold, 
Its quiet beauty and its sumptuous gloom, 

Its glimmering draperies of dull rich gold, 

The gleam upon the burnished peacock's plume. 

My rose, my book, my work, I see them all. 
With my whole soul surrendered to one sense. 

My life within my ears, for one footfall 

Listening with patience breathless and intense. 

'Tis my heart hears, at last, the silent door 
Swing on its hinges, there 's no need the fire 

Should show me whose step thrills the conscious floor, 
As suddenly the wayward flame leaps higher. 

Thou comest, bringing all good things that are ! 

Infinite joy, and peace with white wings furled. 
All heaven is here and thou the morning-star. 

Thou splendor of my life ! " Thou Day o' the world ! " 



QUESTIONS 



QUESTIONS 

The steadfast planet spins through space, 

And into darkness, into light 
Swiftly it wheels its living face: 

"'Tis day," we say, or "It is night." 

And we who cling and with it turn, 
Till spent is our brief span of years, 

Watching our sister stars that burn 
Through the dim trouble of our tears, 

We question of the silence vast. 

Of souls that people distant spheres; 

What of their future and their past? 
Have they our sorrows, joys, and fears? 

Do the same flowers make glad their sight? 

The same birds sing ? On their great seas 
Do ships like ours, with canvas white. 

Move stately, answering to the breeze? 

Have they their Christ, their Christmas Day? 

Kjiow they Mahomet? Buddha? One, 
Or all or none 1 And do they pray ? 

And have they wrought as we have done? 



QUESTIONS 243 

We cannot guess; 'tis hard indeed, 

Our own orb's tale of its dim past 
Through centuries untold to read, 

And who its future shall forecast? 

We only know it keeps its place, 

An atom in the universe, 
As through the awful realms of space 

The mighty hosts of stars disperse. 

We know the hand that holds in check 
The whirling worlds, each in its course, 

And saves the universe from wreck 
And peril, this tremendous Force 

Holds likewise all our little lives; 

The suns and stars do all obey 
His bidding, never planet strives 

To swerve from its appointed way. 

The dangerous boon alone to us 

Is given, to choose 'twixt ill and well. 

Rebellion or obedience, — thus 

To build our heaven, or dig our hell. 

But one great thought our strength upholds: 
Nothing shall perish! Though his rod 

Smites sore, his mercy still enfolds 

His own; God's souls are safe with God. 



244 TYRE AND SIDON 



TYEE AND SIDON 

Be thou ashamed, Sidon, saith the sea! 

The loud voice of the world is in thine ears, 
The world thy service hath and ruleth thee, 

Thou givest unto vanity thy years. 

Hearken, O Tyre! For God stretched forth his hand 
Over the sea and He the kingdoms shook, 

The broad earth quaked at breath of his command. 
From thy proud head the gleaming croAvn He took. 

Is this the joyous city wont to boast 

Antiquity of ancient days? Behold 
Her feet shall carry her afar, her ghost 

Shall mourn in desolation and in cold. 

Because the promise of Eternal life 

And endless glory and unchanging good 

Was naught to her, and she chose sin and strife. 
Vain mocking shows, and empty husks for food; 

Because so eagerly she served the world 

Choosing the base and temporal things it gave, 

Down from her throne her haughtiness is hurled. 
And all her pride is leveled to a grave. 



HJELMA 245 



HJELMA 



Stands Hjelma at her lady's chair, 

Serving with ready hands, 
About her head her shining hair 

Braided in golden strands. 

A rose blooms in her maiden cheek, 

And on her mouth's repose 
A sweet content she cannot speak 

Is lovelier than the rose. 

" What is that shrill and sudden cry. 

My little maiden? Say!" 
"The wild wind shakes the windows high. 

And tears the sea to spray; 

" Oh see you not the black, black sky. 

My mistress dear ? " cries she. 
"The squall comes down, the waves run high; 

Oh hear you not the sea? 

"Oh glad am I the boats are in. 
And little Nils and Lars 
Are safe, before the waves begin 
To leap across the stars ! " 



246 HJELMA 

And up and down and here and there 
She goes with willing feet, 

So busy, with that gentle air 
Of still contentment sweet! 

At the far reef, since morning light, 
All day her brothers twain 

About the wreck of yesternight 

Have worked with might and main. 

She knows not when the cruel gale 
Made wild the waning day. 

It seized upon their shivering sail 
And flung their skiff away. 

She knows not they are driven, lost, 

Over the roaring brine. 
Toward the dim, billow-beaten coast, 

While heaven will make no sign, 

But scatters down its freezing snow 
To hide the fading light, 

And drives its hurricane below 
To fright the shuddering night. 

She hums her sweet Norwegian songs, 
She lights the lamps, and smiles; 



MY HOLLYHOCK 247 

The breakers rush in raging throngs 
Across the lonely miles. 

And where is handsome Lars, so tall? 

And where is Nils, so dear? 
Upon her soul no shadows fall, 

Nor any hint of fear. 

And who shall speak to break the spell? 

And who will deal the blow 1 
The brothers twain she loved so well, 

Their fate must Hjelma know! 

Loud thunders on the savage storm, 

With deep, defiant roar; 
Unconscious in her shelter warm 

She hears it lash the shore. 

And brightly shines her braided hair, 

And on her mouth's repose 
Is sweet content, untouched by care, 

And on her cheek the rose. 



MY HOLLYHOCK 

Ah me, my scarlet hollyhock, 
Whose stately head the breezes rock, 
How sad, that in one night of frost 



248 MY HOLLYHOCK 

Thy radiant beauty shall be lost, 
And all thy glory overthrown 
Ere half thy ruby buds have blown! 
All day across my window low 
Thy flowery stalk sways to and fro 
Against a background of blue sea. 
On the south wind, to visit thee, 
Come airy shapes in sumptuous dyes, — 
Eich golden, black-edged butterflies. 
And humming-birds in emerald coats, 
With flecks of fire upon their throats, 
That in the sunshine whir and glance, 
And probe the flowers with slender lance; 
And many a drunken, drowsy bee, 
Singing his song hilariously. 
About the garden fluttering yet, 
In amber plumage freaked with jet. 
The goldfinches charm all the air 
With sweet, sad crying everywhere. 
To the dry sunflower stalks they cling, 
And on the ripened disks they swing; 
With delicate delight they feed 
On the rich store of milky seed. 

Autumn goes loitering through the land, 
A torch of fire within her hand. 
Soft sleeps the bloomy haze that broods 
O'er distant hills and mellowing woods; 



MY HOLLYHOCK 249 

Rustle the cornfields far and near, 
And nuts are ripe, and pastures sere, 
And lovely odors haunt the breeze, 
Borne o'er the sea and through the trees. 
Belated beauty, lingering still 
So near the edge of winter's chill, 
The deadly daggers of the cold 
Approach thee, and the year grows old. 
Is it because I love thee so 
Thou waitest, waving to and fro 
Thy flowery spike, to gladden me. 
Against the background of blue sea? 
I wonder — hast thou not some sense, 
Some measure of intelligence 
Eesponding to my joy in thee? 
Almost I dream that it may be. 
Such subtleties are Nature's, hid 
Her most well-trodden paths amid; 
Such sympathies along her nerves; 
Such sweetness in her fine reserves. 
Howe'er it be, I thank the powers 
That gave me such enchanted hours 
This late October, watching thee 
Wave thy bright flowers against the sea. 



250 BENEDICTION 



BENEDICTION 

" Oh heaven bless you, heaven keep you, sweet ! " 
It was God's hand that dropped the healing balm 

Upon her head, and clothed in prayerful calm 
Her soul as saints are robed from head to feet. 

Gone is the beautiful beloved voice 

That spake that blessing in the vanished years; 
Yet in her grateful memory still she hears 

The tender tones that made her heart rejoice. 

And ever will, while memory keeps her seat; 

And though she dwelt among the nameless dead, 
Her dust would thrill beneath the voice that said, 

"May heaven bless you, heaven keep you, sweet!" 



SONNET 

If I do speak your praise, forgive me, Sweet! 

Since love demands expression, let me say 
How joyfully my heart goes out to greet 

Your grace and charm with every changing day: 
How sweet your morning kiss, how dear your smile, 

And tender touch, and voice that 's low and clear. 



ON THE TRAIN 251 

And with what deep content I yield the while 
You draw me to you, near and yet more near, 

And show me what pure depths within you lie, — 
The powers of good, the gentle steadfastness. 

The quiet wisdom and the purpose high, 

So strong to love, to lift, to cheer and bless ; 

While like a robe of loveliness you wear 

Your flower-like radiance delicately fair. 



ON THE TEAIN 

Through the storm, through the wind and the rain 

Kushes the clattering train; 

Past the hills, across valley and plain, 

Through city and hamlet again. 

With a rumble and roar we speed on 

Till the half of our journey is done. 

Close wrapped in my corner I dream, 
Watching the raindrops stream 
O'er the misty pane, and the gleam 
Of the white of the steam. 
As they hurry past and are lost, 
On the wings of the tempest tossed. 

Through the smoke and the din and the blur 
Fast, fast I am flying to her! 



252 ON THE TRAIN 

All the thunder, the rattle and whir, 
The noisy discomfort, the stir, 
Are nothing to me, for my sense 
Is lost in a rapture intense. 

And like golden bees through the storm 
Sweet memories cluster and swarm; 
Sweet thoughts round a maidenly form 
That I see by the firelight warm, — 
Bright eyes that are watching the clock, 
Little ears that are waiting my knock; 

And I know how the color will rush 

In that beautiful mantling blush 

To her cheek, till its delicate flush 

Shall rival the rose, as I hush 

With a word her heart's tumult divine 

And she lays her white hand within mine. 

Then thunder, thou clattering train. 
And roar through the wind and the rain, 
Past the hills, across valley and plain 
Devour the long leagues ! — till again 
In the light of my love's happy eyes 
The sun of my life shall arise. 



PEACE 253 



PEACE 



Calm of the autumn night, 

With the glow of a primrose sky 

Drowned in a sea of golden light 
From the harvest moon on high ! 

Against the rose of the sky- 
Winging their silent way, 

Darkly the gulls go floating hy 
In the glow of the dying day. 

Infinite peace and calm 

In the hreast of the ocean wide, 
In the air like delicate balm, 

In the faint, sweep lapse of the tide. 

With the cricket's pensive sound. 

With the breath of the late, last rose, 

Comes a sense of joy profound. 
And a bliss of deep repose. 

What is thy mystic charm, 

beautiful autumn night ! 
Not the sigh of the south wind warm, 

Not thy harvest moon's pure light; 



254 AS LINNETS SING 

Not the calm of the glassy sea, 
E-eflecting thy stars above; 

Nor thy perfumes borne to me 
On the balmy air I love : 

But the soul of all thou art 
Calls to the soul in me, 

And speaks to my quiet heart 
With the voice of sky and sea. 



AS LINNETS SING 

Nay, wherefore should I seek thy patient ear 

To weary thee with words that naught avail! 
This faltering voice will not ring true and clear. 
It will but break and fail. 

And yet I cannot keep back any part 

Of my delight; fain would I give thee all 
The music that thou makest in my heart. 
As David sang to Saul. 

Would bring thee garlands sweet and manifold. 
Meek violets full of fragrance, — roses, too. 
Dark pansies richly streaked with burning gold. 
And lilies bright with dew. 



EUTH 255 

But ah, they grow so pallid 'neath my hand I 

So scentless and so colorless and frail — 
The music cannot reach where thou dost stand, 
It will hut hreak and fail. 

Still at their source the notes are true and strong, 
And as some linnet sings, whose happy hreast. 
Filled with the summer's rapture, thrills with song 
That will not he suppressed. 

Until she cannot choose hut strive to blend 

Her slender silver thread of wavering sound 
With all the nobler voices that ascend. 

Though lost it be and drowned, — 

So sing I to the sun that fills my sky 

With warmth and light and health. So I to thee 
Send up my broken music ceaselessly. 
Silent I cannot be. 



EUTH 

A BABY girl not two years old 

Among the phlox and pansies stands, 

And full of flowers as they can hold 
Her mother fills her little hands, 

And bids her cross to where I stay 
Within my garden's fragrant space, 



256 EUTH 

And guides her past the poppies gay 
^Mid mazes of the blooming place, 

Saying, '^ Go carry Thea these ! " 
Delighted, forth the baby fares, 

Between the fluttering- winged sweet peas 
Her treasured buds she safely bears. 

'T is but a step, but oh, what stress 
Of care ! What difficulties wait ! 

How many pretty dangers press 
Upon the path from gate to gate ! 

But high above her sunny head 
She tries the roses sweet to hold, 

Now caught in coreopsis red. 
Half wrecked upon a marigold. 

Or tangled in a cornflower tall. 
Or hindered by the poppy-tops, — 

She struggles on, nor does she fall, 
Nor stalk nor stem her progress stops, 

Until at last, the trials past. 

Victorious o'er the path's alarms, 

Herself, her flowers and all are cast 
Breathless into my happy arms. 



PETITION 257 

My smiling, rosy little maid ! 

And while her joy-flushed cheek I kiss, 
And close to mine its hloom is laid, 

I think, " So may you find your bliss, 

" My precious ! When in coming years 
Life's path grows a bewildering maze, 
So may you conquer doubts and fears 
And safely thread its devious ways, 

"And find yourself, all dangers past. 

Clasped to a fonder breast than mine, 
And gain your heavenly joy at last 
Safe in the arms of Love Divine." 



PETITION 

My little grandson three years old 
Sleeps by my bedside nightly. 

Through the long hours of dark and cold, 
Dreaming he slumbers lightly. 

He feels my love around him fold, 

And in its heart reposes. 
Upon his hair a gleam of gold. 

His cheeks like damask roses. 



258 APPEAL 

All through the chill and silent night 
I stretch a hand caressing, 

To draw the blanket, warm and light, 
About him, with a blessing. 

In sleep he knows that touch so sweet, 

So lingering and tender, 
Turns his dear face my palm to meet. 

With soft and glad surrender. 

God of pity and of love, 

Have patience with our blindness. 

Thy hand is stretched our heads above 
Warm with Thy watchful kindness. 

Give us this baby's perfect faith ! 

Whatever ills assail us, 
Help us to feel, in life or death, 

That Thou wilt never fail us. 



APPEAL 

The childish voice rose to my ear 
Sweet toned and eager, praying me, 
*^ I am so little, Granna dear, 

Please lift me up, so I can see." 



APPEAL 259 

I looked down at the pleading face, 
Felt the small hand's entreating touch, 

And stooping caught in swift embrace 
The baby boy I loved so much, 

And held him high that he might gaze 

At the great pageant of the sky, 
The glory of the sunset's blaze, 

The glittering moon that curved on high. 

With speechless love I clasped him close 
And read their beauty in his eyes, 

And on his fair cheek kissed the rose. 
Sweeter than blooms of Paradise. 

\And in my heart his eager prayer 
Found echo, and the self-same cry 
Kose from my heart through heaven's air, 
" gracious Father, lift me high ! 

'* So little and so low am I, 

Among earth's mists I call to Thee, 
Show me the glory of Thy sky ! 
Oh lift me up that I may see ! " 



INDEX OF TITLES 



PAGE 

All's WeU 86 

Alone 153 

Already 170 

Answer, The 226 

Appeal 258 

April Days 53 

As Linnets Sing 254 

At Dawn 235 

At Set of Moon 204 

At the Breakers' Edge 61 

August 228 

Autumn 153 

Autumn, In 196 

Because of Thee 185 

Beethoven ,70, 139 

Before Sunrise 34 

Beloved 225 

Benediction 250 

Betrothed 240 

Broken Lily, A 83 

By the Dead 78 

By the Roadside 37 

Captured 232 

Chopin . 74 

Christmas, For 203 

Compensation 222 

Contrast 99 



262 INDEX OF TITLES 

Courage 41 

Cruise of the Mystery, The 177 

Daybreak 109 

Discontent 168 

Doubt 175 

EnthraUed 143 

Expectation ......... 4 

Expostulation 187 

Faded Glove, A 100 

Faith 234 

Farewell . . * 174 

Flowers for the Brave 186 

Flowers in October 114 

Footprints in the Sand 80 

For Christmas 203 

" For Thoughts " 63 

Foreboding 166 

Garden, My 205 

Good-By, Sweet Day 195 

Grateful Heart, A 22 

Guendolen 66 

Guests 171 

Happy Birds, The 130 

Heartbreak Hill 54 

Heart's-Ease 156 

Her Mirror 202 

Hjelma 245 

HoUyhock, My 247 

Homage 167 

Impatience 199 

Imprisoned , . 48 

In a Horse-Car 236 

In Autumn 196 



INDEX OF TITLES 263 

In Death's Despite 217 

In Kittery Churchyard 59 

In May 27 

In September 210 

In the Lane 200 

In Tuscany 193 

Joy 224 

Karen 117 

Kittery Churchyard, In 59 

Land-locked 1 

La*s 124 

Leviathan 148 

Lost and Saved 208 

" Love shall save us all " 177 

March 93 

May, In 27 

May Morning . .84 

Medrick and Osprey 152 

Midsummer 231 

Midsummer Midnight 51 

Minute-Guns, The 12 

Modjeska 122 

Morning Song 138 

Mozart 72 

Mussel Shell, A . . .119 

Mutation 173 

My Garden 205 

My Hollyhock 247 

Nestling Swallows, The 112 

New Year Song 2Z2 

November . 41 

November Morning 214 

Off Shore 2 



264 INDEX OF TITLES 

" Oh teU me not of Heavenly Halls" 230 

On the Train 251 

Our Soldiers 219 

Peace ........... 253 

Persistence 188 

Petition 257 

Philosophy 150 

Pimpernel, The 75 

PoorLisette 190 

Portent . 103 

50 



Questions 242 

Regret 32 

Remembrance 43 

Remonstrance 135 

Renunciation 106 

Reverie 154 

Rock Weeds 15 

Rose of Joy, A 209 

Ruth 255 

Sandpiper, The . 18 

Schubert 73 

Schumann's Sonata in A Minor 184 

S.E. . 190 

Seaside Goldenrod 92 

Seaward 14 

Secret, The 90 

September, In .....••• • 210 

Slumber Song 132 

Song (by Oscar Laighton) 95 

Songs : — 

" A bird upon a rosy bough " 229 

" Above in her chamber her voice I hear " . . . 165 

" A rushing of wings in the dawn " . . . . 127 

" Hark, how sweet the thrushes sing " . . . . 135 



INDEX OF TITLES 265 

" I wore your roses yesterday " 162 

" Love, art thou weary with the sultry day ? " . . 159 

" Oh the fragrance of the air " 107 

"OLove, Love, Love!" Ill 

" O swallow, sailing lightly " 123 

" Past the point and by the beach " . . . .227 

" Rolls the long breaker in splendor, and glances " . 145 

" We sail toward evening's lonely star " ... 44 

"Sing, little bird, oh sing" 105 

" What good gift can I bring thee, thou dearest " . 139 
Sonnets : — 

" As happy dwellers by the seaside hear " . . . 165 

" Back from life's coasts the ebbing tide had drawn " 224 

" K I do speak your praise, forgive me, Sweet ! " . 250 

" Not so ! You stand as long ago a king " . . . 108 

Song-Sparrow, The 57 

Song of Hope, A 218 

Sorrow 39 

Spaniards' Graves, The 24 

Spring Again 162 

Starlight 132 

Submission .......... 160 

Summer Day, A 29 

"Sunrise never failed us yet, The" 142 

Sunset Song 176 

SwaUow, The 20 

Thanksgiving, A 11 

Thora 128 

To a Violin 149 

ToJ. G. W 192 

Transition 146 

Trust 120 

Tryst, A 45 

Tuscany, In .......•• • 193 

TwiHght 19 

Two 220 

Two Sonnets 108 

Tyre and Sidon 244 



S66 INDEX OF TITLES 

Under the Eayes . 212 

Valentine, A 238 

Vesper Song 114 

Violin, To a 149 

Wait 116 

Watch of Boon Island, The 67 

Watching 25 

West-Wind 197 

Wherefore 64 

White Rover, The 95 

With the Tide 140 

Within and Without 239 

Wreck of the Pocahontas, The 6 



INDEX OF FIRST LINES 



A baby girl not two years old, 255. 

A bird upon a rosy bough, 229. 

About your window's happy height, 173. 

Above in her chamber her voice I hear, 165. 

A clash of human tongues within, 146. 

Across the narrow beach we flit, 18. 

Ah me, my scarlet hoUyhock, 247. 

All about the gable tall swift the swallows flit, 130. 

Already the dandelions, 170. 

And was it thus the master looked, think you, 71. 

A pansy on his breast she laid, 63. 

Are the roses fallen, dear my child, 116. 

A rushing of wings in the dawn, 127. 

As happy dwellers by the seaside hear, 165. 

As when one wears a fragrant rose, 209. 

A strong sweet tide toward the lonely shore, 225. 

At daybreak in the fresh light, joyfuUy, 29. 

At her low quaint wheel she sits to spin, 117. 

At the open window I lean, 73. 

Back from life's coasts the ebbing tide had drawn, 224. 

Because I hold it sinfid to despond, 41. 

Be thou ashamed, O Sidon, saith the sea, 244. 

Betwixt the bleak rock and the barren shore, 148. 

Black lie the hills ; swiftly doth daylight flee, 1. 

Black sea, black sky ! A ponderous steamship driving, 64 

Buttercup nodded and said good-by, 228. 

By cottage walls the lilacs blow, 200. 



268 INDEX OF FIRST LINES 

Calm is the close of the day, 74. 
Calm of the autumn night, 253. 
Come out and hear the birds sing ! Oh, wherefore sit yon there, 

135. 
Come under my cloak, my darling, 128. 
Cricket, why wilt thou crush me with thy cry, 166. 
Crushing the scarlet strawberries in the grass, 59. 

Deft hands called Chopin's music from the keys, 122. 
Down San Miniato in the afternoon, 193. 
Dropped the warm rain from the brooding sky, 37. 

Early this morning waking, 235. 

Fain would I hold my lamp of life aloft, 234. 
Far off against the solemn sky, 176. 
Fragrant and soft the summer wind doth blow, 43. 
From out the desolation of the North, 45. 

Good-by, sweet day, good-by, 195. 
Graceful, tossing plume of glowing gold, 92. 

Hark, how sweet the thrushes sing, 135. 

Here bring your purple and gold, 186. 

High on the ledge the wind blows the bayberry bright, 11, 

How long it seems since that mild April night, 14. 

I lit the lamps in the lighthouse tower, 6. 

I stood on the height in the stillness, 162. 

I stood within the little cove, 12. 

I wondered what power possessed the place, 236. 

I wore your roses yesterday, 162. 

If God speaks anywhere, in any voice, 139. 

K I do speak your praise, forgive me, sweet, 250. 

H, some day, I should seek those eyes, 50. 

In childhood's season fair, 25. 

In Ipswich town, not far from the sea, 54. 

In that new world toward which our feet are set, 222. 

In the morning twilight, while the household yet, 109. 



INDEX OF FIRST LINES 269 

In tWs sweet, tranquil afternoon of spring, 57. 
It blossomed by the summer sea, 205. 

Joy breathes in the sweet airs of spring, 224. 

Last night I stole away alone, to find, 22. 

Lazily, through the warm gray afternoon, 80. 

Leaping from the boat, through the lazy sparkling surf, 210. 

Lies the sunset splendor far and wide, 114. 

Lightly she lifts the large, pure luminous shell, 48. 

Like huge waves, petrified, against the sky, 143. 

Like scattered flowers blown all about the bay, 106. 

Love, art thou weary with the sultry day, 159. 

Medrick, waving wide wings low over the breeze-rippled bight, 

152. 
Most beautiful among the helpers thou, 72. 
My life has grown so dear to me, 185. 
My little granddaughter, who fain would know, 100. 
My little grandson, three years old, 257. 

Nanette! 232. 

Nay, comrade, 'tis a weary path we tread, 167. 
Nay, wherefore should I seek thy patient ear, 254. 
Not so ! You stand as long ago a king, 108. 

O Lily, dropped upon the gray sea-sand, 83. 

O Love, he whispered low. Eternal Love, 208. 

O Love, Love, Love, 111. 

O mirror, whence her lovely face, 202. 

O Pilgrim, comes the night so fast, 177. 

O Poverty ! till now I never knew, 78. 

O sailors, did sweet eyes look after you, 24. 

O Sorrow, go thy way and leave me, 232. 

O sovereign Master ! stem and splendid power, 70. 

O stateliest ! who shaU speak thy praise, who find, 71. 

swallow, sailing lightly. 123. 

Oh heaven bless you, heaven keep you, sweet, 250. 

Oh tell me not of heavenly halls, 230. 



270 IKDEX OF FIRST LINES 

Oh the fragrance of the air, 107. 

Oh the sweet, sweet lapsing of the tide, 53. 

Oh what saw you, gathering flowers so early this May morn, 90. 

Only to follow you, dearest, only to find you, 199. 

Past the point and by the beach, 227. 
Peace smiles over hamlet and city, 219. 
Pleasant above the city's din, 212. 

Rock, little boat, beneath the quiet sky, 2. 

Rolls the long breaker in splendor, and glances, 145. 

Round and round the garden rushed a sudden blast, 158. 

Sadly the quails in the comland pipe, 190. 

See how the wind is hauling point by point to the south, 120. 

September's slender crescent grows again, 19. 

She is so fair, I thought, so dear and fair, 66. 

She passes up and down life's various ways, 190. 

She turned the letter's rustling page ; her smile, 220. 

She walks beside the silent shore, 75. 

Sing, little bird, oh sing, 105. 

Skeleton schooner, looming strange on the far horizon's rim, 188. 

So bleak these shores, wind-swept and all the year, 15. 

So soon the end must come, 150. 

Softly Death touched her, and she passed away, 32. 

Softly the flickering firelight comes and goes, 240. 

Southward still the sun is slanting day by day, 156. 

Stands Hjelma at her lady's chair, 245. 

Sunflower tall and hollyhock, that wave in the wind together, 171. 

Swift o'er the water my light yacht dances, 140. 

Tears in those eyes of blue, 187. 
Tell us a story of these isles, they said, 124. 
That was a curlew calling overhead, 27. 
The aster by the brook is dead, 196. 
The barley bows from the west, 197. 
The blossoms blush on the bough, 226. 
The childish voice rose to my ear, 258. 
The children wandered up and down, 177. 



INDEX OF FIRST LINES 271 

The chiU, sad evening wind of winter blows, 132. 

The clover blossoms kiss her feet, 95. 

The crimson sunset faded into gray, 174. 

The day is bitter. Through the hoUow sky, 99. 

The keen north wind pipes loud, 93. 

The lilies clustered fair and tall, 153. 

The long black ledges are white with gulls, 114. 

The morning breaks, the storm is past. I ehold, 218. 

The quiet room, the flowers, the perfumed calm, 184. 

The sparrow sits and sings, and sings, 160. 

The steadfast planet spins through space, 242. 

The summer day was spoiled with fitful storm, 112. 

The swaUow twitters about the eaves, 20. 

The tide flows up, the tide flows down, 239. 

The white reflection of the sloop's great sail, 154. 

The wide, still, moonlit water miles away, 51. 

The wild rose blooms for the sun of June, 175. 

The wind blows from the stormy quarter and the moon is old, 204 

There is no day so dark, 168. 

There is no wind at all to-night, 41. 

They called the little schooner the White Rover, 95. 

They crossed the lonely and lamenting sea, 67. 

This grassy gorge, as daylight failed last night, 34. 

Thou little child, with tender, clinging arms, 132. 

Through the storm, through the wind and the rain, 251. 

Through the wide sky thy north wind's thunder roars, 61. 

Throughout the lonely house the whole day long, 4. 

Thy own wish wish I thee in every place, 203. 

Upon my lips she laid her touch divine, 39. 
Upon the sadness of the sea, 142. 

Warm, wild, rainy wind, blowing fitfully, 84. 

Wo launch our boat upon the sparkling sea, 138. 

We sail toward evening's lonely star, 44. 

What dost thou here, young wife, by the water-side, 86. 

What good gift can I bring thee, thou dearest, 139. 

What is the whole world worth. Dear, 238. 

What is there left, I wonder, 192. 



272 INDEX OF FIRST LINES 

What wondrous power from heaven upon thee wrought, 149. 
When the darkness drew away at the dawning- of the day, 103. 
White as a blossom is the kerchief quaint, 231. 
Whither departs the perfume of the rose, 217. 
Why art thou colored like the evening sky, 119. 
With clamor the wild southwester, 214. 



DEO 



ibi)y 



LiH-i 



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